'Govt must intervene if panic buying situation worsens' - The Borneo Post

'Govt must intervene if panic buying situation worsens' - The Borneo Post

KUCHING: The government must intervene should the situation of panic buying in the country worsen.

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Syariah and Law lecturer Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow suggested strict rules could be implemented to limit the number of goods that consumers can purchase at one time.

He recommended the government act against those who take advantage of the situation.

“Stern legal action must be taken against traders who take advantage of the consumers by doing any kind of profiteering activities under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 [Act 723].

“At the same time, legal action must also be taken against anyone who becomes an instigator by spreading fake news, which can lead to panic buying, under the Penal Code [Act 574], Sedition Act 1948 [Act 15], Defamation Act 1957 [Act 286], or Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 [Act 588],” he said in a statement yesterday.

Muzaffar stressed that everyone must give their full support and cooperation to all the efforts taken by the government in curbing the spread of Covid-19.

“With the spread of Covid-19 and the recent announcement made by the Prime Minister over restriction of public movement as well as the closure of

certain premises, schools, and institutions of higher learning in the country effective from tomorrow (today) until March 31, people, especially consumers, will feel restless and uneasy thus engage themselves in panic buying.

“Irresponsible actions taken by certain individuals in spreading fake news adds to such a panic buying attitude among the consumers in the country,” he said.

Muzaffar cautioned that there may be irresponsible traders who take advantage of the panic buying situation to increase prices.

“As such, it is important for every one of us to be more a responsible consumer and avoid panic buying.

“Consumers should only purchase goods which are in real need. Consumers must be able to differentiate goods which are in real need of buying and goods which are not. Being moderate is very crucial,” he said.

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2020-03-17 16:07:00Z
https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/03/18/govt-must-intervene-if-panic-buying-situation-worsens/
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