Taiping sundry shop operator faces legal action for hoarding sugar

IPOH - A sundry shop operator is facing action under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 which is a maximum fine of RM1 million or a maximum imprisonment of three years or both, for hoarding sugar.

Perak Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said the 11 am raid at the sundry shop was conducted by an enforcement team from the ministry’s Taiping branch following complaints lodged by the public against the trader who was believed to be involved in hoarding and imposing conditions to buy sugar.

He said an officer pretended to be a buyer casually bought rice and then asked for sugar from the store's employees, but was told that "sugar has run out." Subsequently, a team of uniformed enforcement officers entered the shop and conducted an inspection and asked the trader to declare stock under Section 8 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

"As a result, undeclared 156 kilogrammes (kg) of coarse white sugar were found. The sugar worth RM446 was seized for further investigation,” he said. - BERNAMA