KOTA KINABALU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will use three approaches to ensure that Ops Kesan 4.0, which coincides with the implementation of the expanded Sales and Service Tax on Tuesday (July 1), will run smoothly.

Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said this includes implementing data collection of prices and service charges by its officers.

“The data will from the basis of comparing prices and service charges before and after the Sales and Service Tax (SST) rate review,” he said at a media conference after an engagement session with Sabah small and micro traders here on Monday (June 30).

He said the standard operating procedure for managing complaints on charges, prices and supplies was a good approach to ensure the operation achieves its objectives, adding that the ministry would take stern action against traders who raise prices indiscriminately, including fines of up to RM100,000 or three years’ jail or both for individuals and fines of RM500,000 for companies.

On Ops Kesan 4.0, which comes under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, he this is to ensure traders do not indiscriminately raise prices of items and services, which violates the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

The scope of enforcement includes goods and services involved in the SST rate review, including monitoring of goods not involved in the review, such as basic necessities, he added. – Bernama