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No evidence of adulterated mutton
Johor cops nab 406 in crime operations in a week
Students among 21 detained over theft of bicycles

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 07:48 PM PDT

MALACCA: The state Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry's enforcement unit has refuted the allegation that some unscrupulous butchers and traders in Malacca are adulterating imported mutton with beef.

The unit's enforcement chief Jamil Buang said that officers had found no evidence of adulteration during checks at 14 main trading outlets including hypermarkets and wet markets throughout three districts in Malacca.

"The checks were conducted unannounced on the instructions of our minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob following allegations that such unscrupulous sales were purportedly rampant due to the rising cost of imported mutton," he said here recently.

He said the checks were conducted jointly with Malacca Veterinary Department and simultaneously covered Melaka Tengah, Jasin and Alor Gajah.

"Hindus consider cows to be sacred animals and consuming beef is considered sacrilege, hence, we acted on the allegations at once due to the sensitivity of the issue. Apart from the religious context, we also feel that it would not be right for consumers to be fleeced in such manner," he said.

Jamil said the checks will be conducted continuously until Depaavali is over and asked consumers to report such occurrences to his officers at once.

He said those found to have adulterated meat could face action under Trade Description Act 1972.

A trader at the Jasin wet market who requested anonymity said he has had a hard time convincing customers that imported mutton was pure ever since the allegations surfaced.

"I have to relentlessly convince them that the mutton sold at my stall is not mixed with other meat.

"Furthermore, Buddhists also refrain from consuming beef and if consumers stop eating mutton altogether for fear that it is adulterated then this will affect my sales," the trader said.

Consumer B.Raj Kumar Chanda, 42, said he supported the move to check on the purity of mutton.

"Not all traders or butchers sell adulterated meat, but the prompt action by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry will help to weed out unethical ones," he added.

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Johor cops nab 406 in crime operations in a week

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 07:49 PM PDT

JOHOR BARU: State police have detained 406 people suspected to be involved in various crimes in the past week.

Police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said they believed they had solved 18 cases in the state, and one each in Klang Valley and Penang following the arrests.

"The suspects were detained for crimes like vehicle theft, drug offences, vice and triad activities, gambling and commercial crime. Many of them are on the wanted list," he said, adding that those arrested were aged between 22 and 52.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar said police had also busted a robbery gang with the arrest of six people in Taman Ehsan Jaya, Taman Tampoi Indah and Taman Perling here recently.

"We received a report on Oct 9 from a man saying that he and his family had been robbed while shopping in Taman Universiti.

"Within 30 hours, we managed to nab the suspects and seized a shotgun, 10 bullets, nine knives, 14 handphones, a keris and various electronic products," he said, adding that those arrested — aged between 26 and 35 — would be remanded until Oct 18.

On another matter, DCP Mohd Mokhtar said three police stations in Johor Baru North and Johor Baru South would be roped into a joint patrol with the military to combat crime as part of the National Blue Ocean Strategy.

"The programme involves 24 policemen from Setia Indah, Pelangi Indah and Johor Jaya stations as well as 12 personnel from the Jalan Tebrau military police corp camp," he said.

He added that the patrol, which would begin in stages on Oct 15, would be carried out on foot, motorcycles and cars.

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Students among 21 detained over theft of bicycles

Posted: 21 Oct 2011 07:48 PM PDT

BESUT: Police rounded up 21 suspects, including 17 secondary school students, for investigation into the theft of 14 Fixie bicycles from a bicycle shop in Alor Lintang near here last week.

District police chief Supt Kamaruddin Mohd Zakaria said the students were detained after police arrested a 23-year-old unemployed man following a report lodged by the bicycle shop owner.

He said the students, aged between 13 and 16, were detained when they were found in possession of the allegedly stolen bicycles.

"However, 11 of them had been released on police bail," he added.

Kamaruddin said initial investigations found that the Fixie bicycles were sold to the students for RM150 and RM250 each. The actual price of the bicycle is between RM550 and RM660. – Bernama.

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Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Sabtu, 22 Oktober 2011