Two Sandakan premises served notice over sale of water
Published on: Thursday, May 18, 2023
Azdy (second from left) visiting Life Water Industries Sdn Bhd in Sandakan. - Pic for illustration only
SANDAKAN: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry here said it has issued notices to two business premises for suspected profiteering on the sale of bottled drinking water.Its Sandakan Office Chief Azdy Zukkry John said they received complaints from the public and immediately checked the premises before issuing the notices.
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“We served the notices under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
“The shop operators must provide their financial documents so we can check whether there was an increased profit on their sale of bottled drinking water,” he said.
It was understood the shops allegedly sold a carton of 12 bottles of drinking water around RM13. The normal price for a carton, which is not a controlled item, was between RM8.50 and RM9.
Many consumers here have resorted to using bottled water for their cooking and drinking since last October after a river gate broke down and seawater entered the Segaliud treatment plant.
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As a result, many local stores have often run out of bottled water stocks, with local residents believing people were buying in bulk in case supplies really dwindled.
On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said measures were ongoing to resolve the salty water supply issue in Sandakan.
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Shahelmey, who is also State Works Minister, said among the measures was to dilute the high chloride content in treated water at the Segaliud plant.
He said the plant operator had also added a pump at the plant to fill the dam.
Azdy said monitoring would continue and the Ministry was keeping tabs on several other outlets suspected of profiteering.
“The public is urged to contact the nearest ministry office if they find traders hiking the prices of bottled drinking water or essential items,” he said.
Anyone with information on such incidents can inform the ministry via WhatsApp at 019-279 4317 or 019-848 8000, or online through e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my.
They can also call 1-800-886-800 or email [email protected] and the Enforcement Command Centre at 03-8882 6088/6245.
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