KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry detected four premises selling and storing unregistered medicines, suspected to be operated by foreign nationals, with two believed to be illegal clinics, during the Mega Integrated Operation around Lebuh Pudu here on Sunday (Sept 13).
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Health Department Pharmacy Enforcement Branch head Shafilliza Samsuri said the premises operated under the guise of selling textiles and running travel agencies. Checks uncovered blood pressure and blood sugar testing equipment and medicines that had not received ministry approval.
"These clinics target foreign national customers. The modus operandi involves premises suspected to be operated by foreign doctors, although no individuals were inside during the raid.
"Preliminary investigations found that patients would be taken to a back room on the premises to undergo blood pressure and blood sugar checks before being given medicine,” she told reporters following the raid.
Shafilliza said the medicines seized included antibiotics, high blood pressure medication, treatments for fungal infections, local anaesthetic injections and syringe sets.
She said most medicines were suspected to be brought in from Bangladesh and were not registered in Malaysia, even if registered in their origin country.
She added that authorities will conduct further investigations to identify the tenants of the premises and individuals believed to be acting as doctors at the illegal clinics.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Enforcement Department senior deputy director Mohd Hisham Izhar said the local authority issued 28 notices during the operation. These included 19 for operating businesses without a licence and obstructing public places, and nine for unauthorised building renovations.
He said out of the 19 notices, 13 seizure actions were executed involving obstructions on footpaths and public areas as well as premises operating without a licence.
"Checks also revealed 382 additional rooms were constructed illegally inside several premises. A single floor of a building was renovated to fit between 15 and 30 rooms,” he said.
Hisham also stressed that DBKL has never recognised the Jalan Silang or Lebuh Pudu area as Mini Dhaka, despite the public's frequent use of the term due to the high concentration of Bangladeshi nationals there.
During the operation, the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department also detained 472 foreign nationals for various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.- Bernama
