KPDN to expand PATUH programme to 16 food courts next year
KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has identified 16 food courts for inclusion in its trader compliance programme next year to strengthen consumer protection and promote fair business practices.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said the expansion would build on the PATUH programme, which currently covers markets, rest and recreation (R&R) areas and tourist destinations nationwide.
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“For 2027, KPDN plans to expand the programme to food courts, and 16 food courts have already been identified.
“These are also hotspots where large numbers of people gather,” she told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Fuziah was responding to a supplementary question from Hassan Saad (PN-Baling), who asked whether the ministry planned to extend the initiative to rural tourism destinations, including Baling, Kedah, and prioritise areas vulnerable to profiteering.
She said locations were selected based on visitor numbers, with recommendations also sought from state KPDN offices.
“Selection of zones for the PATUH programme is based on hotspots, or places where large numbers of people gather.
“That is why it is not limited to tourist destinations but also includes markets and R&R areas,” she said.
Fuziah added that MPs could propose suitable locations in their constituencies for the ministry’s consideration.
Introduced in 2025, PATUH encourages traders to comply voluntarily with business regulations, particularly requirements for clear price displays, transparent transactions and the use of verified weighing and measuring instruments.
The programme also promotes honest business practices and seeks to prevent profiteering.
Fuziah said the initiative initially covered 16 markets and 20 R&R locations before being extended to 16 tourist hotspots nationwide this year through the Tourist Focus Zone Compliance Programme (ZTPP).
She said regulatory compliance, including business licensing, price displays and weighing instruments, accounted for 70% of the programme’s overall performance assessment.
Cleanliness and appearance carried a 25% weighting, while traders’ participation in promoting the programme accounted for the remaining 5%.
“The first is compliance, involving licences, price displays, weighing instruments and other requirements.
“The weighting is 70% of the overall assessment,” she said.
The assessment also covers food-handler training, premises cleanliness and cooperation with other agencies, including the Health Ministry.
Earlier, Hassan had asked about the key performance indicators used to measure the programme’s effectiveness in reducing complaints about excessive prices.
Meanwhile, Manndzri Nasib (BN-Tenggara) asked whether the ministry would extend the programme to Johor Premium Outlets and Bazar Karat in Johor Bahru to support tourism activities.
Fuziah said neither destination was currently included in the ministry’s plans, but their proposed inclusion could be discussed further.