KAPIT : Enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) Kapit office recently inspected several business premises here and found they had found to be importing and distributing helmets not approved by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (Sirim) Berhad.
Chief enforcement officer from the ministry office Al Redzamani Abdul Razak, who disclosed this, said the ministry were taking the issue seriously
He pointed that most helmets for sale were without the approval of Sirim and had caused deaths in road accidents every year.
Al Redzamani urged the general public in Kapit as well as parents and guardians in particular to make smart choices before buying the helmets.
“This is because some adult riders, motorcyclists and children still prefer to use cracked helmets not approved by Sirim for sale in the market,” he said.
He said recently that a team of Kapit’s MDTCA Enforcement Division officers had been investigating business premises that had not complied with the safety standards on motorcycle helmets enforced by MDTCA.
“The operation involved several business premises (motor vehicle and repair shop) around Kapit Town District here. As a result of the raid on the premises, we seized nine children’s helmets of various colours worth over RM342,” he told a press at MDTCA Kapit office here on yesterday morning.
He said the action was taken in accordance with Section 29 of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 (Trade List of Motorcycle Helmets) Order 2012 for allegedly supplying or offering to supply motorcycle helmets that did not have the Malaysian standard.
First time offender, he said, was liable to a fine of RM200,000 and for a second or subsequent offence, faced a fine of not exceeding RM500,000.
He also advised the members of the public to be careful and ensure that the motorcycle helmets they bought complied with the safety standards enforced by the ministry.
“Users can make complaints through the hotline 1 800 886 800 or e-complaint at http: // e-complaint.kpdnhep.gov.my or the WhatsApp 019 2794317 application,” said Al- Redzamani.
Present together at the press conference were deputy chief enforcement officer Idrus Nalin and staffs Mark Bada, James Uit, Ngalang Kemarau, Nur Shaiful and Norzaimah Zameri.
