Press Digest - KPDNKK to meet with stakeholders over 'bristling issue'

PETALING JAYA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry is to meet Malaysian Hardware Wholesalers Association representatives today to address the controversy over the seizures of pig-bristle paint brushes sold without the non-halal label.
The ministry's current crackdown to seize such brushes in several states has put hardware shop operators in a spot, Oriental Daily News reported yesterday.
Association president Liew Cheng Ho said he had written to the ministry on Monday to express the wholesalers' predicament and sought a dialogue with ministry officials to resolve the issue.
He told the daily that the ministry, in its reply on Wednesday, had agreed to hold a dialogue with the hardware wholesalers at 10.30am today at the ministry in Putrajaya.
Pointing out that the ministry's on-going "Ops Berus" has greatly affected hardware shop operators, Liew hoped that the ministry would come up with clear guidelines on the matter at today's meeting.
The ministry launched the crackdown on Monday following complaints by Muslim consumers.
Its enforcement officers have since seized more than 2,000 paint brushes worth over RM10,000 from hardware stores throughout the country.
The seized items were suspected to be made from pig bristles and sold without specific labels.