Going after bad eggs in PJ market

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/Streets/Monday/Stories/2362265/Article/
By Naveen Mathew Menon



Elizabeth Wong, Mohd Nadzri Osman (second right), Chan Chee Kong (left)
and enforcement personnel checking the prices of chicken at Petaling Jaya Old Town market.


PETALING JAYA: Some greedy traders who raised prices during the festive season have been made to pay.

They were caught when Elizabeth Wong, the state assemblyman for Bukit Lanjan and officers from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs conducted a surprise check at at Petaling Jaya Old Town market.Among those caught was a trader who was slapped with a RM100 fine for overpricing eggs. She was selling Grade B eggs at 0.34 sen each when they were price-controlled at 0.31 sen each.

Another trader who was selling only "santan" and not coconut, was asked to also sell scraped coconut as it was a price-controlled item.

Traders who did not display their prices prominently were given stern warnings by the enforcement officers.They were told to display the prices of controlled goods clearly on red and pink boards. The red board is a sign telling consumers that the prices were of controlled goods.

The traders were also advised by the officers to display a bigger board with the prices of all the controlled goods. The board is available from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs department."

Customers who have been fleeced or unhappy with the prices displayed can report to a toll-free hotline at 1800-886-800 or SMS to 32255."

Wong said she is satisfied with most of the traders as they were selling goods at appropriate prices.

Mohd Nadzri Osman, director of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, who accompanied Wong during the inspection, said the checks on traders, which started on Sept 24, would continue till Oct 8. He said a similar enforcement exercise will be held between Oct 20 and Nov 3 in view of the Deepavali celebrations.

Also joining Wong for the surprise check on the PJ Old Town market were Edward Lee Poh Lin, the state assemblyman for Bukit Gasing and Chan Chee Kong, the councillor for Petaling Jaya. Wong said the PJ market would be upgraded in stages, starting with the fish and meat sections, to improve its hygiene. She added that the stalls would be enlarged and new tiles laid.