MIRI: Pirated CDs and DVDs worth about RM2.3 million were seized by Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) throughout the state from 2009 to February this year.
SEIZED GOODS: (From left) Uzir, Rahim and Zakaria showing the pirated VCDs seized in Miri to members of the press.
MDTCC director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman who said this also revealed that Miri topped the list followed by Kuching and Limbang.
“The demand is high and the big profit operators can get are the factors for the increase in the number of pirated VCDs and CDs sold in the black market,” Uzir said to members of the press after visiting MDTCC Miri office yesterday.
Among those present were state enforcement section head Mohd Rahim Ibrahim and Miri enforcement chief Zakaria Awang.
According to Uzir, all the pirated CDs and VCDs were seized at various outlets in the state’s major towns under the Copyrights Act 1987 and Trade Description Act 1972, following raids conducted after receiving tip-offs from the public and copyright owners.
Miri topped the list with 65,929 VCDs and CDs seized worth RM330,000 under the Copyrights Act 1987 and another 131,859 VCDs and CDs worth about RM659,000 seized under the Trade Description Act 1972.
Kuching, with the second largest seizure saw a total of 37,141 VCDs and CDs worth some RM165,000 seized under the Copyrights Act 1987 and 86,580 VCDs and CDs worth RM433,000 seized under the Trade Description Act 1972.
In Limbang, the third largest seizure saw 21,654 VCDs and CDs seized under the Copyrights Act 1987 while 9,288 VCDs and CDs worth RM46,000 were seized under the Trade Descriptions Act 1972.