Muhyiddin said he wants to see the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry and relevant agencies working together to monitor prices and enforce the law.

“Rises in prices burden the people, especially those from the lower income group, and small traders,” he said during a visit to the ministry.

He said the government is aware that some traders and wholesalers are taking advantage of the festivities by raising prices, and that the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) will help address the problem.

Under SHMMP, prices of essential goods including chickens, eggs, beef and several kinds of fish are each capped at a certain price.

The price of chickens, in particular, has been on the rise with the rising costs of imported chicken feed cited as the reason for the increase.

“Off late, we have received many complaints from the people on the rise in prices of essentials,” said Muhyiddin. “The public are urged to play an active role in relaying such information to the government.”

Domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi, who was at the event, said the government will increase the number of items under SHMMP from 12 to 33.

“We have identified more than 30 items,” he said.