As paying customers, we can buy whatever we want as long as the stock is still available at the store. As vendors, why would you want to limit the purchase anyway?
The Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Fuziah Salleh recently received a complaint from the public who said a convenience store aunty in Perak implemented a “conditional purchase – buy other items if you’re getting more than 1 pack of cooking oil.
To verify the matter, KPDN in Perak deployed an “undercover” to visit the store in Taman Ipoh Jaya, Ipoh, and through the body camera, the aunty was proven to have set the conditional purchase according to a video shared by KPDN Perak on TikTok @kpdn_perak.
“If you want 2 packs of cooking oil, you have to buy other items first. Anything at all,” the aunty told the officer politely, not knowing he was undercover.
The undercover officer then left the store and not long after that, KPDN officers in uniform stepped into the convenience store and asked the same question to another aunty – could they buy more than 1 pack of cooking oil?
This time, however, the aunty had an entirely different answer.
“Yes, you can!”
Looks like a miscommunication between the employees. Regardless, 1 of the officers explained to the aunty about the initial situation, where another officer came in and talked to another employee who said that customers can only purchase more than 1 pack of cooking oil, if and only if they buy other items.
That was an offense, so the officer had no choice but to issue a notice under The Control of Supplies Act 1961. The aunty then gave the officer a thumbs up and acknowledged that she understood everything the officer conveyed.
At the end of the TikTok clip, Fuziah Salleh also reminded all vendors NOT to implement any conditional purchase.
“This is not a small matter because it’s an offense. Make a report to us, and we’ll conduct an investigation immediately.”
Do report to the relevant authorities if you encounter a similar situation in your area!
Also read: Viral Seafood Restaurant in Perak Charges RM75 for Ikan Siakap, KPDN Pays a Visit to Investigate
