Ops Embun 2.0: 18 Traders Fined As Excuses Fall Flat

​KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Bernama) -- Forgetting to renew weighing instrument certification was among the excuses given by 18 traders who were collectively issued compounds totalling RM5,600 during Ops Embun 2.0 at the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market in the early hours of this morning.

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) conducted a surprise inspection of 382 premises, which found that traders were still using unverified weighing instruments, despite the simple and cheap verification process.

Kuala Lumpur KPDN director Mohd Sabri Seman said that of the total, 16 cases were recorded under the Weights and Measures Act 1972 for failure to verify weighing instruments, while two others were taken under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 for not displaying clear price tags and menu lists at food stalls.

“As a facilitation effort, KPDN, together with Metrology Corporation Malaysia Sdn Bhd, had previously gone on-site to provide centralised verification services for weighing instruments at the wholesale market on April 1 and 22.

“Therefore, there is no longer any excuse for traders to use expired, faulty or inaccurate weighing instruments for commercial purposes, as manipulating weights, such as cheating on the weight of goods, is unfair to consumers,” he told reporters after the operation today.

The first Ops Embun, carried out on March 17, recorded 26 cases of various offences involving traders following inspections of 500 premises at the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market and Pudu Market.

Mohd Sabri said that although the number of cases had declined compared with the first phase of the operation, KPDN remained firm on its zero-tolerance stance against traders who fail to comply with regulations.

He said the operation, which began at 1 am, was carried out by 50 personnel from KPDN and the Immigration Department.

-- BERNAMA