Min Aung Hlaing warns against price gouging in Arakan State

By Admin 11 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
11 July 2023, Sittwe

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has instructed the Arakan State Administration Council (ASAC), which is subordinate to his regime, to take harsh action against shops that are charging higher than normal prices for building materials and other consumer goods in Arakan State.

Min Aung Hlaing was on a visit to Arakan State, and met officials of the ASAC on Monday.

“Responsible officials are required to take harsh action against those who charge higher prices. Harsh penalties must be given according to the law, and it is unacceptable to exploit fellow residents for personal gain,” Min Aung Hlaing told officials.

The prices of building materials have jumped due to high demand after many buildings were destroyed or damaged by Cyclone Mocha in mid-May. Some building material shops in Sittwe have been accused of charging as much as double the normal prices.

Both the ASAC and the Arakan Army have briefly detained some shop owners in Sittwe, Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships that were accused of charging artificially inflated prices.

“To adjust commodity prices is good for consumers,” said the chairman of the Arakan State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, U Tin Aung Oo.

More than 1.5 million people were affected by Cyclone Mocha in Arakan State, and there remain many challenges on the road to recovery. 

The regime should lift restrictions on the flow of commodities rather than take action against shops that overcharge, said the owner of a building materials shop in Sittwe.

“We have to seek permission from the Arakan State security and border affairs minister to order building materials,” she said. “Freight charges have also increased. It usually takes around two weeks for building materials to arrive in Sittwe. Sometimes, it takes three weeks if we don’t have permission from the security and border affairs minister.”