Strictly observe noise guideline: Council

Entertainment outlets told to observe noise level threshold of 65 decibel within a distance of 100 metres

Operators of entertainment outlets should strictly observe the noise level threshold of 65 decibel within a distance of 100 metres to avoid causing noise pollution to nearby residents.This was stressed by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng yesterday, adding that this was also done for health reasons and to safeguard the well-being of the public.

“We want to impress on operators of karaokes, pubs and night clubs that the level of noise should not exceed the threshold of 65 decibel within a distance of 100 metres.

“Otherwise, it will cause disturbances to the residents.

“And too loud a noise is actually not good for the ears in the long run,” Ngieng said when met after a dialogue session between SMC and ‘Persatuan Karaoke, Lounge, Pub Dan Kelab Malam Sibu’ yesterday.

He said the association had given the assurance that they would help remind their members to rectify the shortcomings if there was a complaint from the public.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that the best policy with regard to the control of noise was to exercise self control.

This meant that operators would keep the noise in check so as not to cause disturban-ces to others, he said.

Earlier during the press conference, Ngieng said the council would consider issuing karaoke licence to operators if their proposed premises were within the central business district (CBD).

Explaining, he said CBD covered areas such as Lanang Road, Kingwood Hotel, Kawan Hotel down to Orchid Hotel and Paramount Hotel.

“The council will consider their applications if their operation are within this zone.”

He, however, clarified that this did not mean that they would approve their licence straight away.

Operators, he said would still need to satisfy other requirements such as fire safety, security, cleanliness and hygiene.

On those operating outside the CBD area, he cautioned that the council might review their licence if there was complaint with regard to loudness or their operation.

On another issue, he reminded operators to strictly adhere to the operating hours.

He added that this was a state wide requirement whereby during weekdays, operators can operate up to 1.30am and 2.30am on weekend.

With that said, he disclosed that a new sample for the ‘Anti Dadah’ signboard which carried a new design and message would be communicated to them in due course.

He was pleased to note that karaoke operators were giving their full cooperation towards saying ‘no’ to drugs.

Towards this end, he revealed that there were 73 karaoke licences here, adding that another four were still being processed.

He said for new applications, the council would require operators to operate their karaoke business at the ground floor.

The existing ones, he said were given a grace period to comply with the requirement.

Among those present were SMC general purpose and community services standing committee chairman councillor David Lau, honorary president of ‘Persatuan Karaoke, Lounge, Pub Dan Kelab Malam Sibu’ Dato Hii Hua Seng and chairman Sim Lih Ping.

Oral sex the main cause of STD, says specialist

ORAL sex is the cause of most incidents of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in the country.

China Press quoted specialist Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick as saying that many people believed they would not contract STD when indulging in this activity.

STD that could be transmitted via oral sex and kissing included AIDS, especially when there are wounds on the genitals, Dr Low said, adding that STD like cervicitis could lead to cervical cancer.

He said the number of people suffering from STD in the country was not known as the Government had never conducted research on it.

The report also quoted him as saying that there were fewer than 10 STD specialists in the country as the course was not promoted locally.

Merokok - Penguatkuasaan lemah

Seorang lelaki sedang menghisap rokok tanpa menghiraukan tanda larangan di sebuah pusat perubatan di Kuala Lumpur


SEKURANG-KURANGNYA 20 kawasan telah diwartakan sebagai tempat larangan merokok di negara ini tetapi para perokok seolah-olah mendapat ‘kebebasan’ melanggar peraturan itu.

Tinjauan sehari Unit Khas Utusan Malaysia mendapati, di beberapa kawasan hospital dan pusat perubatan masih kelihatan petugas dan orang awam menghisap rokok.

Kegagalan pelbagai kempen kerajaan termasuk Klinik Berhenti Merokok dikaitkan dengan ‘kedegilan’ atau kurangnya kesedaran para perokok terhadap bahaya menghisap rokok.

Lebih baik jika perokok ini berhenti dan menabung wang itu untuk menunaikan fardu haji kerana ia merupakan satu kewajipan bagi umat Islam


Warta segera rokok haram di semua negeri

MERUJUK artikel ruangan rencana Utusan Malaysia 19 Januari 2010, sememangnya sudah sampai ke tahap di mana memujuk dan merayu bagi memberhentikan tabiat merokok tidak lagi berkesan.

Bahkan ia dilihat sebagai suatu pembaziran sumber tatkala berhadapan dengan mereka yang kalis nasihat ini. Sekarang sudah tiba ketikanya segala penguatkuasaan yang diwartakan dikotakan dengan perbuatan denda dan hukuman.

‘Perokok Malaysia tidak makan nasihat’ serta artikel-artikel lain seumpamanya yang pernah diterbitkan di merata-rata media. Saya menyokong penuh sikap dan pandangan yang diutarakan oleh mufti dan ulama serata dunia, yang menunjukkan kesepakatan telah wujud dalam memperjuangkan isu ini. Bukan hanya para petugas sektor kesihatan yang bermati-matian mengelakkan para pesakitnya mati akibat merokok, sekurang-kurangnya suara daripada agensi lain telah membuktikan semangat 1Malaysia harus diguna pakai dalam kesepakatan kita memerangi tabiat buruk ini.

Malah pewartaan di semua negeri perlu dilakukan dengan kadar segera bagi mengelak lebih banyak pembaziran wang bukan sahaja wang perokok, bahkan wang kerajaan dalam bajet yang terhad dewasa ini.

Wang kerajaan banyak dibazirkan bukan sahaja dalam konteks membuat promosi kesihatan dan program pendidikan, bahkan kos- kos perubatan akibat penyakit yang berkait rapat dengan rokok juga bukanlah satu jumlah yang sedikit.

Bermula daripada kanser yang pelbagai seperti kanser paru-paru, peti suara, mulut, tekak dan namakanlah apa sahaja sehinggalah kepada masalah kerosakan paru-paru akibat iritasi bahan berbahaya dalam rokok sudah cukup untuk memberikan kos rawatan yang nilainya amatlah banyak bagi seseorang pesakit.

Jika didarabkan dengan jumlah pesakit yang menderita penyakit akibat rokok di Malaysia ini, angkanya begitu mudah mencecah berbilion ringgit.

Selagi ia tidak diwartakan maka selagi itulah mereka akan berselindung di sebalik bayang makruh yang entah dari mana asal-usul hukumnya ini. Kenapa kita masih ingin menggunakan pandangan yang tidak ‘updated’ sedangkan dalam hal-hal yang lain, semuanya mahu ‘up-to-date’?

Sekarang, pakar-pakar perubatan sepakat berdasarkan hasil kajian dalam jurnal berimpak tinggi, ulama muktabar seluruh dunia termasuklah para mufti di Malaysia juga telah memutuskannya dalam Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa, Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Islam Malaysia (MKBHEAI) Kali ke-37 pada 1995 bahawa tabiat merokok adalah haram menurut pandangan Islam. Jadi, apakah lagi yang ditunggu.

Namun sehingga hari ini, hanya dua negeri sahaja yang mewartakannya. Lupakanlah dahulu soal penguatkuasaan, hendak mewartakannya pun memakan masa hampir 15 tahun.

Penangguhan pewartaan ini atas apa juga alasan akan memberikan imej buruk kepada semua termasuklah agama, bangsa dan negara Malaysia.

Di Israel sekalipun, jumlah perokok berumur lebih 18 tahun hanya 27 peratus ( petikan artikel ‘Israel bans smoking from almost all public places’, British Medical Journal 2001). Di negara itu, peruntukan undang-undang antimerokok telah dilaksanakan dengan begitu intensif sehinggakan pada tahun 2008, kajian menunjukkan hasil jualan produk rokok mencatatkan kejatuhan dan trend ini diramalkan akan semakin berterusan dengan langkah-langkah susulan dan penguatkuasaan yang akan dilaksanakan dari semasa ke semasa. Tidak malukah kita?

Ministry ensuring prompt sugar supply to retailers

KUCHING: The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) Sarawak is pumping up its efforts to curb the sugar shortage problem faced by local retailers.
Its director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said this to thesundaypost yesterday, adding that it was one of his priorities following his appointment last December.

“In our effort to curb the sugar shortage problem, we are assigning two enforcement officers at every wholesaler to ensure that sugar will reach the retailers. We don’t want wholesalers stocking up sugar supply.”

Further, Uzir urged local retailers to report the matter by calling its KPDNKK Sarawak Hotline at 082-466052, which opens daily from 8 am to 7 pm. Alternatively, they can also log on its website at http://kpdnhep.gov.my.

“Local retailers who have trouble getting their supply can always inform our office through our hotline number or via e-Aduan in our website, after which we will issue a letter immediately to the wholesalers, prompting them to deliver the supply to the retailers. However, this is subjected to whether the wholesalers have the stock or not. If they have it, they must deliver, no matter what.

“Failure to do so on the wholesaler’s part, we will take stern action under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Section 21).

“The retailers, however, should also provide details of their problems so we can take appropriate and immediate actions.”

Under the act, a wholesaler is liable to a fine not exceeding RM15,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both, upon conviction. For repeat offenders, they may face up to RM25,000 in fine or imprisonment for a term not more than five years, or both.

Uzir said the ministry is also keeping checks on sugar supply in the borders, adding that a licence from KPDNKK has to be obtained by retailers to sell sugar within 10 kilometres from the border.

Earlier, he officiated the Shell Carnival held by IES Shell Station at Jalan Tun Razak, in conjunction with Shell’s ‘Weekly RM100,000 Cash’ contest. The event was organised to celebrate the second-week prize winner Teo Lee Choo, who was picked from the station’s lucky draw.

Also present were Shell Timur Sdn Bhd’s regional retail manager Kenny Ku and IES Shell Station operator Ivana Tjong.

On the consumer side, Uzir also highlighted KPDNKK’s Consumerism Programme as one of his priorities for this year.

“Consumerism programme will also be our focus, in which it will centre more on health. We have allocated about RM208,000 for the programme this year,” he said

Sarawak: Pos Limbang sesak kronik

JAMBATAN Sungai Trusan dalam pembinaan dijangka atasi masalah kesesakan di sempadan Sarawak-Brunei apabila siap tidak lama lagi.



Kenderaan keluar masuk di sempadan terpaksa tunggu hingga empat jam

MIRI: Dua hingga empat jam dihabiskan hanya untuk menunggu.

Tempoh menunggu itu adalah perkara biasa bagi kenderaan yang keluar masuk pintu sempadan di utara Sarawak, khususnya di kawasan Limbang dan Lawas.


Masalah itu sudah berlarutan sekian lama dan berlaku di hampir semua pos kawalan Imigresen dan Kastam sama ada di kawasan Limbang (Sarawak) atau Kuala Lurah (Brunei).

Masalah sama juga dihadapi di dua kawasan feri menghubungkan pekan Limbang dan Lawas yang dipisahkan daerah Temburung, Brunei, terutama di kawasan feri Sungai Padaruan, Temburung dan Sungai Trusan di Limbang.

Walaupun, kerajaan negeri sudah berusaha mengatasi masalah itu dengan membina pos kawasan Imigresen dan Kastam yang baru di Limbang dan Lawas, usaha itu belum menampakkan hasil kerana kesesakan yang berlaku di pos kawalan di negara jiran memberi impak serupa.

Walaupun Sarawak membuka banyak kaunter imigresen di pintu sempadan berkenaan, pengguna masih terpaksa menunggu giliran yang lama ketika menunggu di pos kawalan Imigresen dan Kastam di Brunei.

Keadaan itu sukar diatasi tanpa persepakatan kedua pihak untuk menanganinya.

Penduduk Limbang, Maria Hasnan, berkata usaha yang lebih padu diperlukan antara kerajaan kedua-dua negara bagi menangani masalah kesesakan kenderaan di pintu sempadan Limbang dan Lawas.

“Langkah ini perlu supaya pergerakan kenderaan sama ada dari Brunei atau Sarawak berjalan lancar, sekali gus meningkatkan ekonomi penduduk kedua-dua negara.

“Penduduk Limbang dan Lawas mahu supaya isu ini terus dibincangkan pada peringkat atasan supaya ia tidak terus berlarutan,” katanya kepada Berita Harian.

Sarawak sudah mulakan langkah untuk mengatasi masalah ini dengan membuka lebih banyak laluan keluar masuk kawasan sempadan. Kita harap Brunei mengambil langkah serupa,” katanya kepada Berita Harian.

Ketika ini, antara kawasan sering berlaku kesesakan yang kronik ialah di Kuala Lurah (Brunei), feri Sungai Padaruan dan feri Sungai Trusan.

Ketika ini Sarawak sedang membina sebuah jambatan baru di Sungai Trusan dan dijangka siap tidak lama lagi.

Apabila jambatan di Sungai Trusan siap perjalanan kenderaan ke Lawas, terus ke Kota Kinabalu akan terus meningkat dan semakin lancar.

Beliau berkata, masalah kesesakan di kawasan pintu masuk berkenaan menjejaskan sektor pelancongan di Limbang dan Lawas yang sedang meningkat kerana semakin ramai penduduk negara jiran berkenaan mengunjungi pekan itu.

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Bukit Kota, Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, berharap kerajaan negeri dapat mencari jalan untuk menangani masalah berkenaan.

“Saya berharap pemimpin atasan dapat menyelesaikan isu ini menerusi hubungan dua hala yang baik antara Brunei dan Malaysia. Masalah ini tidak akan selesai jika hanya satu pihak mengambil tindakan,” katanya.

Beliau yakin Malaysia dan Brunei tidak mempunyai masalah untuk mengatasi masalah ini kerana sudah mempunyai hubungan baik sejak sekian lama.

Pada masa yang sama, beliau mahu pihak Lembaga Penggalakan Pelancongan Malaysia sentiasa memastikan Limbang dan Lawas tidak dipinggirkan dalam program pelancongan yang dirancang lembaga itu.

“Kita mahu supaya industri pelancongan di Limbang dan Lawas turut mendapat manfaat daripada program yang dirancang lembaga berkenaan,” katanya.

Nearly 40,000 Indian nationals ‘missing’ in M’sia

A total of 39,046 Indian citizens are ‘missing’ in Malaysia after their tourist visas expired and it is a worrying issue for the country, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday.The prime minister said they had gone missing from the Immigration Department’s records, according to an estimate drawn up in June last year.

That was why the department was not keen on visa-on-arrival for Indians as the facility had been abused, especially by those from Chennai, he said.

“These people who came to Malaysia through the visa-on-arrival facility, could be back in India or be among people here…(maybe) working in the Indian restaurants. We just don’t know where these people are now…probably still in Malaysia for economic reasons,” he said in a interview with visiting Indian journalists at his office here on Monday.

Najib indicated that he might take up the issue during his three-day official visit to India, beginning Jan 19.

The prime minister said Malaysia had been quite liberal in allowing priests and barbers from India to come and work in the country.

“We would like the Indian people to visit Malaysia as tourists. We have been quiet liberal. We want genuine ones. They are most welcome.

“We are willing to consider reintroducing the visa scheme for people coming from cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi but not from Chennai. The problem of overstaying is only from Chennai,” he said.

Asked whether the government would hold any dialogue with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Najib said many people had realised that the group had “really exaggerated and manipulated the whole situation” of the ethnic Indian minority.

He said that most Indians in the country wanted the government to be sensitive to their needs and the government had been responsive.

“We have attended to a lot of the Indian problems and I don’t see that Hindraf has been an important force in Malaysian politics,” he said.

Asked on the move by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to appoint a special envoy for Jammu and Kashmir, Najib said any follow-up action would be possible only if India and Pakistan were agreeable.

“Malaysia feels that the issue should be settled through peaceful negotiations,” he added.

— Bernama

Nightmarish ride on road to Teku Bazaar

URGENT REPAIR NEEDED: Driving through this potholed road to Teku Bazaar is like riding on horseback

SIBU: For almost a decade, motorists using the old road leading to Teku Bazaar have to gallop through its nightmarish road surface.

A resident said he had been hoping that the authority would one day come to upgrade the road.

“This hope has fizzled out,” he lamented.

Heavy vehicles like lorries and cargo trucks are damaging the road surface.

“These road giants roll up and down the road almost everyday,” he noted.

And when there were damages, the authority did nothing more than make piece-mill repairs, he said, pointing to the patches lining the road.

“We’re like straddling down the road on a horse,” said another resident, tongue in cheek.

He added: “Road in Chinese is called `ma lu’ (horse road). It’s indeed fitting for our road.”

The resident, who only wished to be identified by his surname Wong, said the road was getting narrower due to erosion on both sides.

Wong also felt that the road was not well lit, rendering the use of the road at night dangerous.

He acknowledged that they had another route to the Teku Bazaar, but that should not be good reason to leave the old road in a state of disrepair.

Pelajar terdedah kepada bahan khayal, lucah

Lambakan pil dan serbuk khayal murah, bahan bacaan berunsur seks dan lucah serta pil perangsang seks masih didapati dijual secara terbuka kepada pelajar sekolah menengah dan belia di sekitar ibu negara, menurut Persatuan Pencegahan Jenayah Malaysia (MCPA).

Berdasarkan pemantauan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan itu, cakera padat lucah, pemetik api dan kad permainan daun terup yang memaparkan imej wanita separuh bogel turut dijual. Juga alat renjatan elektrik dan pistol mainan berkualiti tinggi juga boleh didapati dengan mudah dan murah di pasar-pasar awam dan kedai runcit

Harga Minyak Sawit lepasi RM3,000

11 Jan. - Harga minyak sawit mentah (MSM) diramalkan mampu melonjak ke paras RM2,500 setan sehingga melepasi paras RM3,000 setan pada suku pertama tahun ini berikutan peningkatan permintaan dari China, India dan Kesatuan Eropah.

Menurut Pengerusi Kumpulan Perladangan Felda, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Yusof Noor, jangkaan ini adalah berdasarkan analisis pelbagai pihak dan aliran harga yang menunjukkan prospek baik menanti tahun ini.

Pada pukul 3.55 petang ini, harga minyak sawit berada pada paras RM2,570 setan.

Musim pengeluaran yang agak rendah disebabkan hujan antara November dan Mac tahun ini turut menjadi faktor yang bakal merangsang kenaikan harga komoditi sawit ini, kata beliau pada majlis perasmian seminar pengurusan Kumpulan Perladangan Felda 2010 di sini.

Mohd Yusof berkata, pengeluaran minyak sawit pada 2010 dijangka berjumlah 17.3 sehingga 17.8 juta metrik tan berbanding 17.5 juta metrik tan bagi tahun 2009.

"Pada masa ini mereka yang terlibat dalam industri sawit merasa lega kerana prospek harga minyak sawit kekal pada RM2,400 setiap tan pada Disember 2009," katanya.

Biarpun harga yang pernah mencecah RM4,4438 pada Mac 2009 sukar diulangi, paras harga minyak sawit bakal bertambah baik, katanya lagi.

Pada minggu lepas harga minyak sawit mentah meningkat kepada RM2,626 manakala harga buah tandan segar (BTS) ialah RM516 satu tan.

Kumpulan Perladangan Felda mensasarkan pengeluaran BTS sebanyak 8.63 juta tan metrik dan sebanyak 15 juta metrik tan BTS turut dijangka diproses oleh Kilang Felda.

Manakala katanya, pengeluaran MSM adalah dijangka sebanyak 3.13 juta metrik dan ini melibatkan kos pengeluaran BTS sebanyak RM198 setiap tan.

Katanya, purata harga jualan MSM adalah RM2,100 setiap tan.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Felda melalui anak syarikatnya, Felda Palm Industries (FPI) akan melaksanakan Projek Loji Janakuasa Biomass kedua di Jengka yang dijangka siap pada Disember 2011.

Katanya, ini memerlukan 300,000 tan tandan kosong kelapa sawit (EFB) sebagai bahan bakar dari tujuh buah kilang sawit.

Ini adalah bagi menyokong usaha dan saranan kerajaan supaya industri komoditi di negara turut serta dalam menyumbang kepada industri tenaga.

Sebelum ini, FPI mempunyai sebuah lagi kemudahan, Biomass Power Plant, di Sahabat, Sabah, yang berjalan lancar sejak 2006. - Bernama


Eksport minyak sawit merosot

11 Jan. - Eksport minyak sawit Malaysia merosot 19.47 peratus kepada 1.21 juta tan metrik pada Disember daripada catatan November berjumlah 1.501 juta tan metrik, kata Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia hari ini.

Pengeluaran minyak sawit mentah susut 4.73 peratus kepada 1.520 juta tan metrik pada Disember daripada 1.595 juta tan metrik yang dicatatkan pada November.

Lembaga itu berkata, stok minyak sawit meningkat 15.72 peratus kepada 2.238 juta tan metrik pada bulan itu, daripada 1.934 juta tan metrik yang dicatatkan pada bulan sebelumnya.

Daripada jumlah itu, stok minyak sawit mentah meningkat 7.13 peratus kepada 1.197 juta tan metrik sementara minyak sawit diproses meningkat 27.47 peratus kepada 1.041 juta tan metrik pada Disember.

Ia menambah bahawa import minyak sawit mentah meningkat 224.66 peratus kepada 153,797 tan pada Disember daripada 47,372 tan metrik pada November dan import minyak sawit diproses meningkat 26.95 peratus kepada 11,441 tan metrik daripada 9,012 tan metrik pada November.

Import minyak sawit meningkat 193.06 peratus kepada 165,237 tan metrik pada Disember daripada 56,384 tan metrik pada November.

Sementara itu, MPOB berkata, eksport minyak isirong sawit pada Disember menyusut 4.94 peratus kepada 104,576 tan metrik daripada 110,009 tan metrik pada November.

Pengeluaran isirong sawit menyusut 4.19 peratus kepada 391,814 tan metrik pada Disember daripada 408,959 tan metrik pada November sementara stok menyusut 12.94 peratus, pada Disember, berbanding 129,249 tan metrik pada bulan sebelumnya.

Jumlah stok minyak isirong sawit meningkat 9.46 peratus kepada 305,912 tan metrik pada Disember berbanding 279,483 tan metrik pada November. - Bernama

Two new H1N1 cases in 24 hours

January 11, 2010, Monday

SIBU: Two new admissions to hospitals for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) were recorded in the state within 24 hours, from 12pm on Jan 4 to 12pm on Jan 5.
Five Influenza A (H1N1) cases are being treated in hospital with the latest case reported on Dec 29 last year in Bintulu, according to statistics from the state Health Department.

A total of 725 cases were found positive from the overall 1,659 suspected cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in the state as reported to the department until Jan 4 this year.

For Influenza Like Illness (ILI), it said until Jan 4 a total of 208 clusters were reported in the state since the start of the Mitigation Phase.

On the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), it stated in 2009 until Jan 2, there were 9,547 cases reported in the state with Sibu recording the highest cases at 3,103 followed by Miri (1,805), Kuching (1451), Bintulu (944), Kapit (762), Sarikei (373), Sri Aman (340), Samarahan (325), Betong (199), Mukah (177) and Limbang (68). The total cases reported included new cases recorded in Sibu with six cases, Bintulu (6), Sri Aman (4), Sarikei (3), Betong (2) and Kuching (1).

A laboratory results from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak showed three samples were positive for EV71-type virus with three from Sarikei division.

So far, according to the statistics, a total of nine pre-schools and daycare centres in the state were issued closure notice or have volunteered to close temporarily after two or more students were discovered infected.

Don’t exploit sugar price hike: Ministry

Food, drink outlets told not to increase prices of goods arbitrarily

Food and drink outlets risk facing the music if they increase the prices of goods indiscriminately.The warning came from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry which is keeping a hawk’s eye on the situation following the recent increase in the price of sugar in the country.

“Eating outlet operators must not simply hike the prices of their drinks and food as they wish,” the ministry’s enforcement chief here Zakari Awang warned yesterday.

He said stern action awaited errant operators.

Zakaria added that the ministry viewed the matter seriously, thus offenders would not be spared the compounds.

He said they were focussing on the matter and carrying out daily inspections at eating outlets in Miri Division including Bekenu and Marudi.

“Any trader found flouting the trade laws will face a compound of RM300 (for sole proprietor) and RM500 (for companies) under the Price Control Act 1946,” he cautioned.

He added that those who failed to settle the compound fees would be brought to court.

The enforcement chief saw no reason why the price hike in sugar would affect their business, especially in the sale of drinks.

He noted that in coffeeshops the operators often used condensed and ideal milk in drinks like tea, coffee, Milo and Horlicks.

“The prices of these sugar-based items are stable with no increase in costs, so there is no excuse for the operators to hike the prices of their drinks; besides, they do not need much sugar for that matter,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

When asked, Zakaria assured that there was sufficient sugar for the festive season.

He said although the monthly consumption of sugar in the division was about 500 metric tons, the supply was enough to meet the needs here.

He reminded the public not to over-buy the commodity simply to stock up, adding that this would create unnecessary demand.

“The people should buy according to their needs,” he said.

Effective Jan 1, the price of sugar has increased by 20 sen per kg.

Prior to the rise, the item was sold at RM1.60 per kg.

Sugar is a controlled item and as such traders should not raise the price indiscriminately.

Zakaria said his enforcement teams and price monitoring officers would go to the ground to check the shops in the division from time to time to ensure traders did not break the law by increasing the price of sugar and other sugar-based products anyhow because the impact on their prices was minimal.

“We also want to make sure that consumers do not buy sugar in great quantities unnecessarily just to stock them at home,” he said.

To a question, he said they would carry on with the monitoring and inspection work “until we are satisfied with the situation.”

Meanwhile, traders who face sugar shortage problem are advised to inform the ministry’s office.