KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 28): Parents have been told that they cannot choose to equip their children with branded goods for school and expect low prices, The Star reported today.

The English-language daily quoted Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism deputy minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, who said if parents wanted affordable items, they should not get branded items because it could not cost much lower than the designated price range.

“It is up to the parents to choose whether they want cheaper goods or pay more for branded ones. They can choose either at shopping outlets,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that the ministry had done its part to bring down prices through initiatives such as the “Back to School” campaign, in which a set of school uniform, including shoes and socks could be bought at a minimal price of RM70, with discounts offered between 50% and 70%.

Ahmad Bashah also urged consumers to shop smart and take advantage of government campaigns.

"People are complaining about the high cost of living but it is, because they are not shopping at places that offer cheaper goods," he reportedly said after launching a lower price campaign at a supermarket in Pasir Gudang, Johor yesterday.

He said there were 63 companies, including Econsave, Aeon Big, Giant, Tesco and Mydin that were participants in the government's campaigns to bring down prices and urged other outlets to join in.

Ahmad Bashah also told the daily that 6,591 offences were recorded under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 for 2015.

His ministry had conducted checks at 1.86 million premises, confiscated RM1.4 million worth of goods and issued RM914,406 compounds for various offences such as not displaying proper price tags and profiteering.