GEORGE TOWN: A total of 36,770 complaints from consumers nationwide have been made using the Aduan Suri QR code system since January 2024, says Fuziah Salleh

The Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Minister said in 2025, 142 complaints have been received in Penang out of 1,879 complaints nationwide.

“These shows that the system has successfully gained the attention of users nationwide,” she said at a press conference after visiting the Northern Zone Bazaar Ramadan Rahmah (BRR) at Jalan Mahkamah here on Friday (March 7).

She said in 2020, the ministry conducted a consumer awareness and empowerment study, which found that consumer empowerment in Malaysia was at 63.1%, a moderate level.

The Aduan Suri QR code initiative was launched in 2023, which allows consumers to lodge complaints directly to the ministry via WhatsApp application by scanning a QR code.

Fuziah also said the ministry had not received any complaints about excessive pricing at Ramadan bazaars, markets, supermarkets, mini markets or grocery stores.

“What we found were media reports of increased prices of goods,” she said.

She also urged the public to lodge complaints through the Aduan Suri platform so the ministry could take action against irresponsible parties.

She also said the Domestic Trade and Costs of Living had conducted checks on 15,189 premises this year in Penang.

Fuziah said 232 cases were recorded, involving confiscated goods worth RM1.5mil and fines totalling RM48,900.

She also launched the “Payung Rahmah” initiative in Penang, which offers the Rahmah Menu at just RM5.

Of the 95 Ramadan bazaars participating in this initiative, 10 are in Penang.