BEWARE OF FAKES: MDTCC enforcement officers showing the fake Daia washing power seized from three retail outlets in Mukah division.
SIBU: The seizure of 408 packets of fake Daia washing powder in three outlets in Mukah Division on Wednesday raises red flag that the counterfeits are staging a comeback in the market.
One of the three complainants, representing the trademark owner – PT Sayap Mas Utama, Indonesia, recalled that the activity had halted following a major bust in Sarawak some years back.
“It appears they are making a comeback and we believe these fakes are from China and priced lower than the original products.
The complainant, who asked not to be identified, was speaking to reporters late Wednesday night, following raids carried out together with seven officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) Sibu branch.
The ministry’s local chief, Balraj Singh, said the three retail outlets were caught off-guard by the surprise raids between 12.30pm and 2pm.
“The confiscated products are worth RM1,991.90.
“We can take action against these three retailers under the Prohibition of false trade description, Section 5 (1) (c) of Trade Descriptions Act 2011, which states, ‘any person who exposes for supply or has in his possession, custody or control for supply any goods to which a false trade description is applied.’
“Upon conviction, for a non corporate body, the person is liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or sentenced to three years’ jail. On the other hand, a corporate body is liable to a fine not exceeding RM250,000,” Balraj pointed out.
According to him, the three retailers might not be aware that they had obtained fake Daia from the supplier.
Hence, he advised retailers to always vet the background of suppliers to avoid landing in ‘hot soup’.
Asked where these retailers had sourced their products, the spokesperson for the complainant group believed that the so-called ‘salesmen’ on vans could be the suppliers.
She lamented that it was not easy to track these elusive salesmen as they were mobile, moving from one place to another.
“These unscrupulous individuals would deal with their clients using cash invoices to avoid detection,” interjected Balraj.
“Even if they have a company, it might be fictitious and operating from a fake address,” he stated.
Asked how shoppers could differentiate the original from that of fakes, the complainant hinted scent was the key to avoid getting conned.
“The fake ones do not emit any smell while the original has a strong and nice smell. On top of that, the fake powder is loose and its texture differs significantly from that of the original Daia,” she said.
She, however, conceded that the labeling and other features of the product were not visible to the naked eye, adding the fake was lighter.