KETUM is being sold openly online through ecommerce platforms, Harian Metro reported.
The ketum sellers would advertise their products using pseudonyms such as sayur urat merah (red-veined vegetable), daun hijau urat putih (green leaves with white veins), serbuk daun urat merah (red-veined leaf powder), serbuk herba kampung (kampung herb powder), serbuk padu (compact powder), ibu herba (mother of herbs) and teh herba kampung (kampung herb tea).
The fresh ketum is sold for between RM28 and RM48. Checks showed that buyers regarded purchasing ketum online as less risky and easier to access.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin did not deny that such online sales were happening.
“A few engagement sessions were held with main ecommerce management such as Lazada, Shopee and Carousell to halt such sales online.
“When the sellers realise that they are being monitored, they would change their keywords,” said Comm Khaw, pointing out that there is a loophole in the laws on actions that could be taken against those responsible.
> Nearly 3,000 residents of Pulau Redang have requested that an automated teller machine (ATM) be set up on the island as they are currently forced to fork out a lot of money to access banking facilities.
Utusan Malaysia reported that boat fees and other costs would come up to almost RM300 just to go to the nearest ATM on the mainland.
● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
