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Sunday, September 16, 2007

Price rise upsets consumers

The Star 17 September 2007

MALACCA: Consumers are fuming over the price increase of flour by 30 sen a kilo, accusing the traders of taking advantage of the festive season to up prices.

Traders, however, say that suppliers have raised the price and traders have no choice but to follow suit.

Traders in Melaka Central market said that suppliers had informed them that the price of packed flour would increase from today.

“Before, a kilogram of flour was sold at RM1.80 but now it is RM2.10 or we can not make any profit,” trader Quek Boh Jee said.

Nordin Mamut, 50, from Lorong Pandan said traders were taking advantage of the festive month and hoped the Government would step in to investigate or take action against the guilty parties.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department Malacca Deputy Chief Enforcement Officer Abdul Halim Abdul Karim said there was no increase in flour prices.

“We control the price of the 25kg pure grade flour at RM1.35 per kilo. For small packs, we only control the supply and distribution,” he said.

He explained that during every festive period there were unscrupulous traders who raise prices because of the demand.

He urged consumers to call his department at 06-2881422 so that the matter could be investigated

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