The association’s vice-president, Siti Rahayu Zakaria, said the committee should coordinate policies and programmes by the various ministries and agencies against unscrupulous trading.

She said Fomca had submitted a proposal to the Federal Government in February after receiving increasing complaints about price increases.

“We do not want consumers to continue to be victimised by traders in this situation of economic uncertainty and rising cost of living,” she said.

She said traders would normally use shortage of stock as an excuse to raise price, as well as whenever the government announced a bonus, or increases in salaries and allowances for civil servants.

An economist, Prof Barjoyai Bardai welcomed the proposed setting up of the committee to protect consumers. However, consumers, should play their role by providing information to the authorities on traders.

– BERNAMA