GEORGE TOWN – The monitoring of prices and protection of consumer interests now fall within the scope of the penghulu’s and penggawa’s duties, according to the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He said this further empowerment represents the government’s recognition of the penghulu and penggawa institution in view of their positions being closest to the people.
“As they are always respected by the local community, every advice or criticism from them would quickly be adhered to by the traders and consumers,and with the expansion of the powers of the penghulu and penggawa, the interest and welfare of the consumers would also be better looked after,” he was reported to have said in a speech at the launch of the price reduction campaign at the Sunshine Supermarket recently. At the same event, he handed over of the authority cards to 252 penghulu and penggawa representing Kelantan, Kedah, Perak and Penang.
To date, 658 penghulu and penggawa in peninsula Malaysia have been entrusted with the duty to monitor commodity prices and to look after consumer welfare issues in rural areas.
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