Malaysia will place 11 essential items under its Deepavali 2026 Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP), up from nine items last year, in a bid to keep prices affordable during the festive period.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the scheme would run from November 4 to 10, covering four days before Deepavali, the celebration day on November 8, and two days afterwards.
The two newly added items are coconut milk and potatoes imported from China, expanding the range of controlled goods available to consumers.
“The implementation of SHMMP Deepavali 2026 is appropriate under current circumstances, as it aims to create a win-win situation for consumers and traders.
“Consumers can enjoy reasonable prices, while traders will not be burdened by an excessively long implementation period,” he said at a special press conference announcing the scheme.
The other controlled items are large red onions, Indian small red onions, Indian small red onions (Ros variety), red chillies, imported bone-in mutton, Australian dhal, whole coconuts, grated coconut and tomatoes.
The maximum price for whole coconuts applies only at the wholesale level, while the price control for grated coconut applies only at the retail level.
Armizan said a comparison of the 2025 and 2026 schemes showed that maximum prices for most controlled items had remained stable, with several products recording reductions.
In Peninsular Malaysia, five items recorded lower maximum prices than last year: whole coconuts, grated coconut, large red onions, Indian small red onions and Australian dhal. Maximum prices for tomatoes, red chillies and Indian small red onions (Ros variety) remained unchanged.
In Sabah, large red onions and Australian dhal recorded price reductions, while six items remained unchanged.
In Sarawak, grated coconut, Indian small red onions and Australian dhal saw lower prices, while five items remained unchanged.
In the Federal Territory of Labuan, only Australian dhal recorded a price reduction, with seven other items maintaining their prices.
Imported bone-in mutton was the only item to record an increase in both wholesale and retail maximum prices across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, Armizan said.
He added that the selection of controlled items, maximum price levels and duration of the scheme took into account supply and demand, current costs, weather conditions, labour costs, and feedback from government agencies and industry players.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) is also working with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to ensure sufficient supplies of controlled goods throughout the scheme.
Meanwhile, Armizan said the ministry would also run the Deepavali edition of the Madani Rahmah Sales Programme (PJRM) to help ease the cost of living during the festive season.
The public can check the 2026 Deepavali programme schedule through the official PJRM portal or the Info Jualan Rahmah Madani application.
