Malaysia expands Deepavali price controls to 11 items

Malaysia will impose maximum prices on 11 essential goods from November 4 to 10 under its 2026 Deepavali Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme, compared with nine last year. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali announced the measures in Kuala Lumpur on October 29.

The additions are coconut milk and potatoes imported from China. Controls will also cover tomatoes, Australian dhal, imported bone-in mutton, red chillies, whole coconuts, grated coconut, Indian rose shallots, Indian shallots and large red onions.

Armizan said most goods covered by the scheme had stable prices compared with 2025. In Peninsular Malaysia, the ceilings for Australian dhal, Indian shallots, large red onions, grated coconut and whole coconuts have been lowered. Those for Indian rose shallots, red chillies and tomatoes are unchanged.

Sabah has lower maximum prices for Australian dhal and large red onions. Sarawak has reductions for Australian dhal, Indian shallots and grated coconut, while retaining last year’s ceilings for large red onions, Indian rose shallots, whole coconuts, red chillies and tomatoes.

In Labuan, Australian dhal is the only item with a lower ceiling, while seven other goods retain their previous limits. Imported bone-in mutton is the sole product whose maximum wholesale and retail prices have risen in all four areas, Armizan said.

Enforcement will take place under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. Ministry officers will be deployed to locations including shopping centres, farmers’ markets and public markets to check compliance.