PETALING JAYA: Thousands of shoppers flocked to malls nationwide as the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2010 kicked off on Saturday.

The carnival, which will run for 55 days, is an opportunity for bargain hunters to find the best deals. It ends Sept 16.

The annual sale, now in its 11th year, coincides with Hari Raya in September . Thousands of shoppers crowding the Sogo shopping complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur for bargains as the country kicked off its annual mega sale on Saturday. The 55-day shopping carnival ends on Sept 16. ? ART CHEN / The Star

With the festival, shoppers can shop for, among others, designer goods, home decor items, computer peripherals and electrical appliances.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said amendments to the Trade Descriptions Act 1972 would provide for stern action against traders who cheat or hike the prices of their goods.

He said the amendments were expected to be gazetted before Ramadan.

Under the amendments, traders would then be required to inform the ministry of a sale at their outlets and the list of existing prices of their goods 14 days in advance before they offer price cuts.

Shops will also have to slash the prices by at least 70% of their goods.

Ismail Sabri said the amendments were to prevent consumers from being cheated by unscrupulous traders.