GEORGE TOWN, August 25 – The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is calling upon the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to enforce Section 8(1) of the Price Control Act 1946 Amendment 1973, which mandates traders to display price tags on goods intended for sale. A routine survey conducted by CAP on Penang Island has revealed numerous instances of traders openly disregarding the Price Control Act. The survey encompassed food stalls, wet markets, night market stalls, restaurants, and sundry shops.
The primary transgressors were stalls where prices for drinks and food were not accompanied by a price list or any indication of the displayed price. Second on the list of offenders were restaurants that failed to update price indications, often misleading consumers. Failure to accurately display prices frequently results in consumers being overcharged for goods and services. According to the Act, the responsibility lies with sellers to ensure that buyers are informed about the prices of products. However, a lack of enforcement has hindered the effectiveness of the law.
In light of these findings, CAP is urging the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to take stringent measures and rigorously enforce the laws outlined in Section 8(1) of the Price Control Act 1946 Amendment 1973, holding all offenders accountable for their actions.
