The salary increase for civil servants is no excuse for retailers to raise prices. Not only is this illegal, it shows a distinct lack of social responsibility. The enforcement arm of the Ministry of Domestic Trade should go all out to nab culprits who engage in this disgraceful and unwarranted practice. Shopkeepers should realise that customers with greater spending power will visit their stores and buy more anyway.

Hence retailers, with a broader customer base who now have more money to spend, will make bigger profits legitimately. They do not have to increasing prices. In fact, this might put people off, and turn potential customers away.

Dato’ Dr. S. Vijayaratnam
Vice President
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia