Stern action against those attempting to sell chicken wings disposed in Sibu: KPDNKK

KUCHING: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) has warned that stern action would be taken against those attempting to sell chicken wings that were disposed by the Customs Department at a dump site in Sibu recently.
Sarawak KPDNKK chief enforcement officer Abd Hafidz A Rahim, in issuing the warning, said it is feared that the disposed chicken wings were no longer safe to be consumed.
“I am warning those digging up the disposed chicken wings and reselling them to the public, action will be taken against you, and we will not compromise,” he told a press conference at the KPDNKK office, here, today.
Abd Hafidz said those found doing so would be investigated under Section 23 of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 which carries a RM100,000 fine for individuals or RM250,00 for companies, or a three-year jail term or both upon conviction.
He urged those with information to lodge a report with the ministry.
A group of villagers were reported to have dug out the disposed chicken wings recently at the dump site near Bukit Aup, with pictures and videos of the incident making the rounds on social media.
Customs director-general Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy, in confirming the confiscation of the three containers of chicken wings, said the disposal was done in accordance to the department’s law.
“We could not sell or give them away because of health issues. We don’t want the government to be held responsible when anything goes wrong (if we give them away).
“We even got the consent from the land owner to bury them, 20 feet deep that is. We don’t know how the locals came to know of it. But the police have now made sure that no villagers enter the site,” he told theSun today.
Subromaniam explained that the chicken wings, which were believed to be from New Zealand, had been confiscated as they did not obtain the required permits.
The procedure for import of the items is they must obtain an Approved Permit (AP) from the Veterinary Services Department and a halal certificate from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim). The three containers confiscated had none,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sibu police have cordoned off the plot where the few containers of frozen chicken wings were disposed and buried by an enforcement authority last Friday since this afternoon.
Police personnel were also put on guard at the entrance to prevent members of the public from entering the area.