Kuala lumpur: The public should not engage in panic buying over concerns that the conflict in West Asia could affect import supplies to the country, as the supply of essential goods, particularly for the upcoming Aidilfitri festive season, is sufficient. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said his ministry would work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) as well as the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to identify alternative sources of supply should any exporting countries suspend exports due to the conflict.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Armizan assured the public not to worry and not to engage in panic buying as the supply of essential goods for the festive season is sufficient and already available in the country. He made these remarks at a press conference on the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for Aidilfitri and the MADANI Rahmah Sales Programme (PJRM).

He explained that the SHMMP Aidilfitri 2026 would be implemented from March 14 to 28 to control the prices of 27 essential items during the festive season. The list includes large yellow onions, large red onions, red chillies, long beans, green mustard leaves, and coconut milk, with dhal being introduced as an additional item this year.

Armizan stated that KPDN enforcement officers would carry out monitoring and enforcement on the ground to ensure compliance with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. In another development, he mentioned that KPDN is targeting 1,898 series of PJRM nationwide throughout Ramadan. As of March 9, a total of 910 programmes have been implemented, with the remaining 988 scheduled to be held until a day before 1 Syawal.

He also noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had instructed that the number of items sold under the programme be increased to at least 50 types in the final week of Ramadan, compared to the previous average of 40 types.

At the same event, Armizan launched the Service Ihsan MADANI@Petronas AutoExpert (SIM@PAX) programme, which offers vehicle service discounts of between 10 and 30 per cent to help the public reduce vehicle maintenance costs, especially those travelling back to their hometowns for Aidilfitri. The programme runs from March 10 to 31 and involves 124 Petronas AutoExpert workshop premises nationwide, with bookings available through the Setel application.