IPOH: From next year, the Perak government will organise a sale carnival on school equipment to help parents deal with the rising cost of goods on the eve of the new school year.
Perak Health, Consumer Affairs, National Integration and Human Resources executive committee chairman, A. Sivanesan, said he carnival will be organised at all municipalities throughout the state.
This, he said, is to help the less fortunate with the rising prices, especially on the eve of the new school terms. He said the move will especially benefit the bottom 40 (B40) group by giving them more options when buying school items for their children.
“The state government will help this group (B40) obtain school items at cheaper prices. We will discuss on how to implement this.
“If need be, we will use the local councils and organise these carnivals at the respective municipalities, where all traders can sell their goods,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after conducting a check on the sale of school equipment at the Meru Raya Mall, together with the Perak Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
Also present was state ministry enforcement chief Shamsul Nizam Khalil.
Sivanesan said, by organising these carnivals, it can offer consumers more options so they can secure the best deals.
He also expressed hope that consumer associations will work with the state government to discuss ways to tackle cases of price increase in the run-up to the new school term, instead of just airing their views on social media.
Meanwhile, Shamsul Nizam said as of Dec 26, the ministry has inspected a total of 242 business premises which sell school equipment.
However, he said the ministry has yet to receive any formal complaint on the rise in prices of black school shoes or other school items, as claimed by several quarters.
He said although the ministry does not control the prices of school items, it can take action against sellers who unnecessarily hike up prices for the sake of reaping huge profits.
