CNY Price Controls Set For Selected Essential Goods

Samuel Chua

11th February 2026 - 3 min read

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living will implement the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme for the Lunar New Year from 13 February to 21 February.

The scheme, commonly referred to as SHMMP, is intended to stabilise prices of selected essential goods and prevent unreasonable price increases during the festive period.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the scheme will run for nine days, beginning four days before the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Selected Food Items Placed Under Temporary Price Controls

Under the scheme, maximum prices will be set for a range of commonly purchased food items during the festive season. These include white pomfret, white prawns, Chinese garlic, imported round cabbage, carrots, white radish, and Chinese potatoes.

Price controls will also apply to imported old ginger, chicken wings, pork, and pork-related products. In addition, live pigs at the farm level will be subject to price controls during the enforcement period.

According to the minister, these items were selected based on festive consumption patterns and their tendency to face price pressure during periods of higher demand.

Pricing Decisions Based On Market Conditions

Armizan said the list of controlled goods, maximum price ceilings, and enforcement duration were determined after assessing multiple factors. These include supply and demand conditions, current production and distribution costs, weather-related considerations, wage levels, and input from strategic partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He added that the approach is designed to provide consumer protection while taking into account the operational constraints faced by traders, without extending controls beyond the festive period.

Nationwide Enforcement During Control Period

Enforcement actions during the SHMMP period will be carried out under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

The ministry will deploy enforcement officers to key locations nationwide, including public markets, farmers’ markets, and shopping centres, to monitor compliance and respond to pricing-related complaints.

Rahmah Madani Sales To Support Festive Spending

Alongside the SHMMP, the ministry will implement additional initiatives aimed at managing cost-of-living pressures during the festive season.

One of these is the Chinese New Year 2026 Rahmah Madani Sales Programme, which will run from 3 February to 17 February at 920 locations nationwide. The programme offers selected daily necessities at prices below prevailing market rates.

How This Affects Festive Grocery Spending

The implementation of the SHMMP during the Lunar New Year period is intended to provide short-term price stability for commonly purchased festive food items, particularly those that tend to experience price fluctuations during peak demand.

For households, the scheme may reduce uncertainty around grocery spending in the lead-up to celebrations, especially for ingredients traditionally associated with festive meals. However, the controls apply only to specific items and for a limited period, meaning prices for other goods may still vary based on market conditions.

The use of temporary price controls alongside discounted sales under the Rahmah Madani programme reflects a broader approach that relies on short-term measures to manage festive cost pressures. Over time, such interventions may influence how consumers plan festive purchases and compare prices across different retailers and markets.

Samuel Chua

Samuel writes about personal finance and financial news, focusing on how banking updates, policies, and promotions affect everyday money decisions. He enjoys making complicated financial topics easier to follow. Outside of writing, he spends his time watching TV shows and occasionally convincing himself he will only watch one episode.

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