‘Second-Hand Dealer’s Act no bite if no manpower’

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Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: Unscrupulous dealers may still find a way to beat the system if the Second-Hand Dealer’s Act is not properly regulated and enforced.

As such, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah feels that the scrap metal trade should be put to a stop until there is manpower to properly regulate and monitor it.

He expressed this view when asked on state Police Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor’s recent statement that the police would be fully enforcing the Second-Hand Dealer’s Act from February 1 and would be launching a state-wide operation to go after unlicensed dealers of second-hand goods.

According to Mazlan, with the enforcement of the Act, the police would be able to monitor those

who purchase stolen goods and be more effective in reducing the number of cable and metal thefts in the state.

“I am very happy and applaud the Commissioner of Police Sarawak for his proactive action to go after unlicensed dealers of second-hand goods, which somehow could be a party to metal and cable theft.

“I always believe this theft flourishes because there are ‘buyers’ of this scrap metal. If there is no buyer, nobody will bother to steal cables, manholes and windowsills, among others,” Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He described these thieves as scum and a nuisance to the society as they would vandalise electricity sub-stations, private meter pipes, houses under construction and manholes.

Mazlan had disclosed that in 2016, 38 cases of cable theft were reported to the police, which was an increase from the 23 cases reported the year before.

Meanwhile, on a separate issue, Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister for Housing, said whatever methods that could eradicate corruption and get the culprits to be penalised are welcome. He was commenting on Transparency International Malaysia president Datuk Akhbar Satar’s recent suggestion for the polygraph test to be introduced in the civil service to detect abuse among its employees.

“If polygraph test proves to be effective in detecting corrupt officials or other criminals, it is high time for the enforcement agencies to use it.

“What is important is eradication of corruption and educating public servants and/or especially those holding public office to be trustworthy, efficient and responsible. No amount of new equipment could suppress corruption if we are half-hearted in wanting it eradicated,” he said.