SIMPANG AMPAT, March 24 – The Penang Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has conducted 85 inspections under Ops Campur, to detect any illegal mixing of imported and local rice by rice manufacturers and packers.

Penang KPDN Director, S. Jegan, said the state has nine rice factories, and so far, seven of them have been inspected. Rice samples have been sent to the Chemistry Department for further analysis to determine the purity of their contents.

"Two more factories have not been inspected because they do not carry out packaging. We are still waiting for the results of laboratory tests, but inspections have been carried out not only at the factory level, but also include wholesalers and retailers," he said.

He said this at a press conference after the launch of the Aidilfitri 2025 Festival Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) in Simpang Ampat, Penang.

The price control scheme is effective from today until 7 April 2025, covering 26 types of controlled goods, compared to 22 types last year. Among the new items on the price control list are small Indian shallots, small Indian shallots (Ros), carrots, and coconut milk.

A total of 137 enforcement officers and 62 price monitoring officers have been deployed at strategic locations such as public markets and farmers' markets throughout Penang to ensure compliance with controlled prices throughout the festive season.