PRICE TAGGING LAWS MUST BE ENFORCED – Consumers Association Penang

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism to enforce the Price Control Act 1946 Amendment 1973, Section 8(1) which requires traders to display price tags on goods meant for sale.

Our repeated survey around Penang Island showed most traders openly violating the Price Control Act. The survey showed as follows:

The main offenders were the stalls where prices of the drinks and food sold by the stalls had no price list or indication of the price displayed.

Second on the list of offender were restaurants where indication of prices were not updated, unclear food price list and normally misled the consumer.

By not displaying the prices, consumers are normally being “ripped off”.

According to the Act the onus is on the seller to keep the buyers informed of the price and lack of the enforcement has hindered the effectiveness of the law.

In view of this, CAP calls on The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism to take stern action and strictly enforce the laws in accordance to Section 8(1) of the Price Control Act 1946 Amendment 1973 and bring to book all offenders.

Press Statements, 30 October 2017