PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will implement Ops Kesan 6.0 nationwide from June 1 to Aug 31, 2026, to curb profiteering activities amid global economic uncertainty and rising supply chain costs.
KPDN Enforcement Director-General Datuk Azman Adam said the operation is being carried out under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) to ensure that traders do not take advantage of the situation by unreasonably increasing the prices of goods and services.
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He said the operation follows the global supply disruptions that occurred earlier this year, which led to a surge in global crude oil prices and consequently affected production costs, transportation expenses, and the prices of various essential goods in the market.
“KPDN views these developments seriously because rising upstream costs have the potential to place pressure on consumers if not effectively monitored.
“Therefore, Ops Kesan 6.0 is being implemented as a proactive measure to ensure that any price increases are based on actual cost factors and not driven by traders seeking excessive profits,” he said here on May 30..
For this operation, Azman said KPDN will utilise data collected periodically since the outbreak of the crisis in West Asia as the basis for monitoring and analysing changes in costs and business profit margins.
He said inspections will be conducted comprehensively across the entire supply chain, including manufacturers, livestock breeders, farmers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
Among the key sectors that will receive attention are the petrochemical industry, involving packaging and plastic products such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as agricultural fertilisers, including urea and ammonia, which play important roles in food production, he added.
“In addition, the agriculture sector will be a focus area, with monitoring of prices for several key produce items including mustard greens, kailan, cucumbers, tomatoes and red chillies, which are commonly consumed by households.
“For the livestock sector, inspections will focus on the cost of feed for broiler and layer chickens, the price of standard chicken, and all categories of chicken eggs, including Grade A, B and C eggs, which are among the main components of household expenditure.
“KPDN will also monitor the transportation sector, particularly logistics delivery charges, which have a direct impact on market prices. At the same time, periodic inspections will be conducted on other sectors based on complaints and current information received throughout the operation period,” Azman said.
Throughout Ops Kesan 6.0, he said KPDN enforcement officers will issue Notices for Verification of Goods Information (NPMB) under Section 21 of Act 723 to inspect premises to obtain detailed information on operating costs, selling prices and business documents.
He said the notices are an important instrument that enables the ministry to conduct a detailed analysis of a business’s cost structure and profit margins to detect any elements of profiteering.
He added that failure to comply with the notice or the submission of false information constitutes a serious offence and may result in legal action without having to wait for the final outcome of profiteering analyses.
“If investigations reveal an unreasonable increase in profit margins compared to the previous year and elements of profiteering can be proven, action will be taken under Section 14(1) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
“For companies or corporate bodies, a first offence carries a fine of up to RM500,000, while a second and subsequent offence may result in a fine of up to RM1 million.
“For individual traders, a first offence carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both. A second and subsequent offence may result in a fine of up to RM250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both,” he said.
Azman said KPDN would continue strengthening market monitoring efforts and would not compromise with any party attempting to exploit the current situation to reap excessive profits at the expense of consumers.
He also urged the public to continue serving as the ministry’s eyes and ears by reporting suspicious price increases, stressing that consumer cooperation is vital in ensuring price stability and safeguarding public well-being amid current economic challenges.
