PUTRAJAYA: A blanket boycott on all market traders over rising prices of essential goods will adversely affect the economy, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said.
Instead, Shafie, called on the public to look for alternatives or buy from traders who offered reasonable rates.
Shafie, who clearly did not support the blanket boycott call by the umbrella union bodies - Cupeacs and MTUC - on market traders, said: "Be a smart consumer and look for cheaper alternatives."
He said even the honest traders would be affected if people boycotted markets.
If this happens traders would have to close shop, workers would lose their jobs and the economy would suffer, he said.
"There are markets and places where you can still buy goods at reasonable prices," he said, adding that four to five enforcement officers would be deployed to all the main markets to check on unscrupulous traders who raised the prices of essential goods.
"Consumers must exercise their right by comparing prices to avoid traders who hike up prices. This will force them to lower their prices.
"Don't buy what you don't need as the Government can only check on prices of controlled items," he told a press conference at his ministry here on Monday.
However, Shafie said the ministry would not hesitate to take stern action on errant traders who sold price-controlled items above the ceiling prices.
"Please give us the information and we will act," said Shafie, who called on the public, including the union bodies to call the ministry's hotline at 1-800-886-800 to report such traders.
He said between Sept 13 and 23, the ministry's enforcement officers checked 130,374 premises and seized RM78,114 worth of goods and issued compound fines worth RM37,850 to 230 traders, comprising wholesalers and retailers.
He said the ministry would continue to check and enforce the laws on errant traders.
"We don't want any adverse impact on the domestic economy," he said, when asked if he objected to the boycott call.
MTUC and the civil servants umbrella union body Cuepacs launched a nationwide boycott campaign against rising prices of essential goods at the Sungai Besi toll plaza here on Sunday.
Leaders of the two bodies urged the public to seek alternatives to rice, sugar, milk, salt, wheat flour, cooking oil, bread and chicken.
MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said the campaign was not merely about boycotting errant traders but to force the Government to tackle the problem of price increases.
Cuepacs president Omar Osman said consumers must show that the power was in their hands.
"If everyone worked together to support the boycott, prices will be reduced drastically. If they just go with the flow, things will never change," he said.
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