Armizan said his ministry summoned the company following public concern, and a meeting was held last Tuesday to clarify the situation, Astro Awani reported.

“The ministry has issued a ‘Goods Information Confirmation Notice’ under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act to obtain justification for the planned price increase,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference today.

The issue gained traction after a vendor notice dated April 14 from Ramly Food Marketing Sdn Bhd began circulating online, stating that product prices would go up starting next Monday.

The notice attributed the increase to rising raw material costs.

In a separate case, Armizan said Sim Yang Hok Industries Sdn Bhd, which recently went viral over claims it had increased the price of ice products from RM3.70 to RM6, has denied the allegation.

He said the company clarified that no official notice was issued and that it had lodged a police report over the viral claims.

“So far, both companies have stated that any proposed price increase is due to operating costs and not the implementation of the sales and service tax (SST),” he said.

He also advised companies to consult the ministry before implementing any price adjustments to ensure they do not violate anti-profiteering laws.

The SST expansion, which took effect on Tuesday, maintains a zero rate for essential goods while imposing a 5% to 10% tax on non-essential items.