JASIN – Melaka police will create a platform that gathers second-hand (pre-loved) goods traders through the Telegram application in an effort to prevent the sale of stolen goods in the state next year.
Melaka police chief Makhzan Mat Nor said it was an initiative to ensure that second-hand goods traders comply with the Second-Hand Dealers Act 1946 (Act 189).
“This year, licences have been issued to 369 traders to conduct second-hand sales with regular monitoring by the police.
“Through the Telegram platform that will be created, the police will provide information on theft activities, especially involving vehicles, to current traders, so that they do not buy the goods and instead report it to the police to curb the spread of theft,” he said.
He said this to reporters after the Ops Bersepadu on licensing (second-hand) in collaboration with local authorities and the Melaka health department in Melaka Tengah and Jasin here today.
Commenting further, Makhzan said if the second-hand licence holder was found to have committed the same offence, especially under Section 13 of the Second-Hand Dealers Act 1946 for buying stolen goods, his team would not hesitate to recommend to the state Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali to revoke their licence.
He said only the chief minister of Melaka had the right to revoke the business licence under the act while the police only had the power to approve the licence application.
He said that from January 1 until yesterday, a total of 650 premises have been inspected throughout the state involving 404 inspections by the Central Melaka District Police Headquarters (IPD), 105 inspections by the Alor Gajah IPD, 102 inspections by the Jasin IPD and 39 inspections by the Melaka Contingent Police Headquarters.
In the operation, three premises inspected were each issued compounds under Section 6 of the Second-Hand Dealers Act 1946 (Act 189) for not having a licence to conduct the business, four notices of Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act, 1975, two Jasin Municipal Council (MPJ) Licensing Compounds Trade 2011 compounds for running a business without a licence, and two MPJ compounds for keeping dogs without a licence.
In addition, a compound was issued under the Municipal Warehouse By-Laws 1979 of the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) for using the premises as a store/warehouse for second-hand goods without a licence, another compound from the MBMB Breeding House for keeping dogs without a licence, and a notice to comply with the MBMB Licence Terms to capture the six dogs in front of the premises. – Bernama, December 17, 2020
