Sudden hikes burden devotees, raise concerns over transparency: Association
GEORGE TOWN: Tomato prices have doubled within a month in the run-up to Thaipusam and Chinese New Year, sparking concerns over profiteering and weak enforcement at wet markets, a consumer group said yesterday.
Penang Hindu Association president Datuk P. Murugiah said a survey conducted on Jan 26 found that prices had surged from RM2.50 per kg last month to RM5 per kg this month.
“This is a 100% increase in just one month.”
He added that the association carried out a cursory survey at several retail shops and wet markets after receiving numerous complaints from consumers over steep and sudden price hikes.
“Of the 15 items surveyed, there was indeed a surge in the prices of essential food items ranging from 14% to 100%.”
He also said other vegetables recorded sharp increases, including ginger and brinjal, which rose by 87.5% and 71.4% respectively.
“Other essential vegetables, including lady’s fingers, cauliflower, long beans and (moringa) also saw an increase of between 40% and 50% per kg in this short period of time.”
Murugiah said coconuts and mangoes, commonly used by devotees during Thaipusam, were also affected, with prices rising by up to 40% per fruit and 100% per kg respectively.
He added that the sudden spike places a heavy financial burden on devotees observing a strict vegetarian diet ahead of Thaipusam, as well as on groups preparing free meals for the public.
He also raised concerns over a lack of transparency at wet markets, adding that price tags were often not displayed and weighing scales were usually not visible to consumers.
He urged the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Department to take firm action against unethical practices and to step up monitoring, particularly during festive periods.
“Although ceiling prices have been set for essential goods, regular monitoring is needed to ensure that the policy is fully implemented by retailers, especially during festive times,” he said, adding that authorities should also look into the frequent shortages of subsidised 1kg packets of cooking oil.
Murugiah also told theSun that the practice of providing weighing scales for public use at council-owned markets, introduced some 30 years ago, should be reinstated to protect consumers from being short-changed.
