“I understand that there are no guidelines for controlling the prices of cooked food, but I hope traders will not charge exorbitant prices,” Ismail said after a visit to a Ramadan bazaar in Putrajaya.

He said the government can only monitor the prices of controlled goods including eggs, poultry, and cooking oil.

“I leave it to the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry to monitor the prices of food so that the people will not be burdened,” he said

Earlier today, one bazaar visitor had been quoted by FMT as complaining that prices had gone up. Noor Azeem said: “Everything is expensive, especially the food. A packed rice meal is almost RM10 now.”

He said he realised that prices of items such as eggs and bread had gone up “but this is too much”. He said consumers were made victims because traders pass on the costs in order to sustain their business.

The prime minister also urged parents to be cautious when bringing their children to Ramadan bazaars and to avoid crowded places.

He said visitors and stall owners at the Putrajaya bazaar had generally followed Covid-19 rules.

During his walkabout at the bazaar, he exchanged greetings and chatted with a number of visitors and traders there while also buying stuff like kuih seri muka, sugarcane juice and coconut water for breaking of fast.

Deputy health minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali had earlier advised parents against bringing their children to bazaars to protect them from being exposed to Covid-19.