BUKIT MERTAJAM: Over 58,000 counterfeit and illegal goods worth more than RM3mil have been destroyed following a major enforcement crackdown by Penang’s Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The disposal exercise, held on Tuesday (Sept 29) at the ministry’s Penang Evidence Storage Complex in Bukit Minyak, marked the conclusion of legal proceedings for 140 cases involving trade mark violations, supply control breaches, and consumer protection offenses.
Among the 58,941 destroyed items were counterfeit vehicle spare parts, motorcycle exhausts, designer clothing, handbags, electronics, and illicit healthcare and food products.
The ministry’s Penang Director, S. Jegan revealed that the disposal operations and associated case resolutions generated a total value of RM3.15mil.
"The disposal of seized goods accounted for RM1.86mil, while RM193,371 from the sale of forfeited controlled goods was channeled directly to the government as revenue," Jegan said during a press conference. An additional RM1.03mil was recorded from active controlled-goods cases, alongside RM4,400 raised by tendering scrap waste from the destroyed items.
Jegan highlighted a sharp increase in monitoring across the state this year. Between Jan 1 and Sept 29, officers conducted 58,805 inspections, taking action on 761 offenses with total seizures valued at RM4.85 mil.
The operations yielded RM591,100 in compound fines across 565 cases. Another 12 cases prosecuted in court resulted in RM94,500 in fines.
"Managing seized evidence transparently and with integrity is a key part of our legal process," Jegan said, adding that the ministry will intensify enforcement on price gouging, online fraud, counterfeit goods, and the smuggling of subsidized items.
"We will continue to protect consumer interests and ensure a fair trading environment across Penang."
