PORT DICKSON: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has announced the maximum prices for 12 controlled items in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said the move, under the Price Control Scheme, begins Saturday and ends on Feb 25, namely from five days prior to and up to six days after the Chinese New year, which falls on Feb 19 and 20.
"The items are live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, chicken egg grades A, B, and C, imported round cabbages, garlic (from China), pomfret, large white prawns prawn and pork. The implementation is under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
"This will enable consumers to obtain necessary items for the festive season at reasonable prices, check excessive price hikes and reduce the burden of cost of living," he said.
He said this at a media conference after launching this price control scheme at the Lukut Public Market here Saturday.
He said traders should place pink price tags on the controlled items to differentiate them from others and were encouraged to sell them lower than the stipulated prices.
Meanwhile, when opening the 2015 Port Dickson Community Franchise Programme at Seri Kemang Square, here, he said 760 franchise systems comprising numerous sectors had been registered with the Ministry's Franchise Registration Office, and 7,525 businesses had been set up.
(a) Based on the article above, identify 3 reasons to explain why the prices of certain items are controlled by the government.
(b) Identify the type of price control imposed by the government.