KPDN: Festive price control for Kaamatan, Gawai runs May 27–June 4 in Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan

“KUNDASANG, May 23 — The Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) of the Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day on May 30, 31 and June 1, respectively, will be implemented from May 27 to June 4 and involve 17 controlled items in Sabah, Sarawak and FT Labuan. Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the scheme, which runs for nine days, is implemented to ensure stable prices and sufficient supply of essential goods during the peak celebrations of the two festivities. “Consumers will be able to purchase essential goods at reasonable prices while traders will not be burdened with an excessively long enforcement period,” he told a press conference, here, Friday. Present were Deputy Chief Minister 1 cum State Works and Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Member of Parliament for Ranau Datuk Jonathan Yasin, Ranau District Police Chief Supt Mursalin Mahmud and KPDN Director-General Datuk Azman Adnan, among others. Armizan said the Ministry has increased the number of controlled goods to 12, this year, from 10 last year, with imported old ginger and potatoes from China added to the list. The controlled items for Sabah are live pigs, pork (meat and fat), pork belly, imported buffalo meat from India, chicken wings, curly dried chillies, small Indian onions, garlic from China, large yellow onions, large red onions, imported old ginger and potatoes from China. For Labuan, 11 items will be controlled, excluding live pigs. Armizan said a comparison between the 2025 and 2026 implementation showed more stable price trends in Sabah and Labuan, with six goods recording price reductions in both locations. “For Sabah, three items maintained their prices while two new goods are introduced. A similar trend is also recorded in Labuan, where two items remained unchanged, and two new items were added,” he said. Meanwhile, the 2026 Gawai Day SHMMP for Sarawak would involve 12 controlled items compared to 11, last year, with imported buffalo meat from India added to the list. The controlled goods for Gawai include live pigs, pork (meat and fat), pork belly, imported buffalo meat, live old chicken, chicken wings, imported round cabbage, garlic from China, curly dried chillies, whole coconuts, grated coconut and coconut milk. Armizan said analysis showed that five items recorded price reductions this year compared to last year, while three items remained unchanged. He said the determination of goods and maximum prices under the scheme was made through discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and industry. “The scheme will be enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723), which empowers authorities to determine maximum prices for selected goods. The maximum prices set under this scheme can be checked via the KPDN website. “KPDN enforcement officers will be deployed at public markets, farmers’ markets, tamu markets and shopping centres selling festive essentials to monitor compliance,” he said. Armizan also reminded traders to use pink labels for controlled-price goods and comply with regulations. “Individuals found selling controlled goods above the maximum price will face fines of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, while companies may be fined up to RM500,000. “For failing to display pink price tags, individuals may be fined up to RM10,000, while companies face fines of up to RM20,000 under the Act,” he said. Armizan said the Ministry would continue working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as well as industry players, to ensure adequate supply throughout the festive period. He added that intervention measures under the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on Price and Supply Stabilisation would also continue to help address issues related to prices, supply and the rising cost of living. Apart from the SHMMP, he said KPDN is also implementing several specific programmes related to cost-of-living initiatives under the Payung Rahmah initiative, such as the Program Jualan Rahmah Madani (PJRM) and the Program Servis Ihsan Madani@Petronas AutoExpert (SIM@PAX). — Daily Express

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