Expose irresponsible profiteers!

From The Star today:

Ministry to name and shame traders who raise prices

PUTRAJAYA: Unscrupulous traders who increase prices of goods must be exposed so that people stop patronising their shops.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said consumers have to be smart and help bring to book such traders.

He also ordered the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to crack down on traders taking advantage of the salary increase in the public sector.

“Reports of unnecessary price increases have already started.

“Expose these irresponsible profiteers so that others will not do business with them,” he said.

It's another case of cakap tak serupa bikin. When the government increases prices of essential goods, signs lopsided concession agreements with guaranteed rate increases, and gives contracts to vendors and contractors with high overpriced prices, all this threat against the small traders and distributors smack of hypocrisy. After all, the increase in cost of living can be attributed directly or indirectly to the government's action. At the end of the day, whatever increase in pay the civil servants are getting will be negated by ever increasing prices of goods, including essential day-to-day goods. Already, some are speculating that the pay rise will not translate to much of a sweetener. With the inevitable increase in prices due to increase in costs, especially logistical costs, the lower to middle income group will still feel stretched. And all those threats of taking action against "irresponsible profiteers" will only make people become more cynical of the government's actions and pronouncements.