A PAP MP for Nee Soon GRC has taken matters into his own hands in this novel coronavirus outbreak season.

According to a Feb. 8 Facebook post by Ng, he personally went to confront the staff at a retailer in his constituency to question them about the reason for selling a box of 20 N95 masks for S$138, while each mask was retailing for S$6.90.

Ng wrote:

Many Nee Soon East residents have alerted me about this and I visited the shop today. I’ve spoken to the staff members at the shop.

Anyone can sell masks but no one should be profiteering. Retailers profiteering from the situation will be taken to task. MTI has been alerted and they will investigate.

This is a time when we all need to come together and help each other rather than try to take advantage of the situation and profit from it.

At least one comment on Ng's post asked if the prices indicated on the box of masks were in Chinese yuan, as the wording was in Chinese.

Ng clarified that it was in Sing dollar.

Background

The sale of masks and other items at sky-high prices during this novel coronavirus outbreak season will not be tolerated, according to MTI previously.

MTI said in a news release on Jan. 30 that it had asked Deen Express, a retailer in 313@Somerset, to explain the “basis of their selling prices for the sale of masks, including their cost price and profit margins”.

Deen Express had allegedly sold a box of 20 N95 masks for more than S$60.

The ministry also said: “MTI will use such information to assess the need for further action under the Price Control Act.”

It also urged the public to report errant sellers to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

A letter of demand has been sent by the Price Controller.

“Profiteering is highly irresponsible and damaging in these uncertain times,” MTI said. “We urge all retailers to practise corporate social responsibility and not take advantage of the increased demand to raise prices unreasonably,” MTI said in its release.

“We will work closely with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) to monitor the situation and investigate any unfair and anti-competitive practices.”

The company is required by law to respond.

Failure to do so would see the company liable to a fine of up to S$10,000 for the first offence and up to S$20,000 for the second and subsequent offences.