BY Azlan Othman

The 51-day Brunei Mega Sale (JMB) 2022 is set to kick off nationwide on April 11, as locals begin preparing for the Hari Raya festivities, said the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) under the Ministry of Finance and Economy on Thursday.

The JMB 2022, scheduled to run until May 31, is a government initiative to create opportunities for retailers to play their roles in increasing domestic economic activities as part of the post-COVID recovery drive.

DEPS encourages participating retailers to offer attractive discounts on goods, and to roll out creative offers, especially for locally-made products, in support of national efforts to stimulate economic growth.

DEPS also remind JMB 2022 participants to comply with the Cheap Selling Regulations and the Consumer Protection (Fair Trade) Order 2011. This includes ensuring ethical business practices and providing genuine discount offers. Retailers are required to provide accurate information during the inspection.

Falsification of discount prices to mislead consumers or failure to provide true information is an offence under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trade) Order and the Cheap Selling Regulations, which is punishable with a maximum fine of BND20,000 and a five-year imprisonment.

Items offered at a discount must also be marked with a clear and distinct price tag, in accordance with the Price Tag Display Regulations, to ensure price transparency and enable consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

In accordance with the Cheap Sale Price Regulations, the Sale Notice issued by DEPS must be displayed clearly, distinctly and is available at any time as confirmation of participation in the JMB 2022.

All retailers participating in this event will be listed in an additional platform, the PenggunaBijak mobile application, for the purpose of publicity and increasing visibility. Participation into JMB is open immediately and retailers are required to submit the entry form to DEPS. The form can be downloaded from www.jpes.gov.bn/cad and must be returned via email to sales@jpes.gov.bn.

Participants are advised to adhere to the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. Inquiries can be channelled to DEPS through the PenggunaBijak mobile application, email (sales@jpes.gov.bn) or contact 223 0223 during working hours.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin