‘Onus on police to enforce Second Hand Dealer’s Act’

May 1, 2017

SIBU: The implementation of Second Hand Dealer’s Act 1946 will not be effective in curbing metal thefts if no regular checks were carried out on second-hand goods dealers.

Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said now that the Act is fully implemented, the onus is on the police and related agencies to enforce it.

He said this in response to the media report that Second-Hand Dealer’s Act 1946 is now fully enforced in the state.

Kuching district police chief ACP Abang Ahmad Abang Julai was reported to have said the Act would help curb metal thefts.

“I am happy to hear that the Second Hand Dealer’s Act is finally fully enforced in Sarawak. 

‘Second-Hand Dealer’s Act no bite if no manpower’

January 20, 2017

SIBU: Unscrupulous dealers may still find a way to beat the system if the Second-Hand Dealer’s Act is not properly regulated and enforced.

As such, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah feels that the scrap metal trade should be put to a stop until there is manpower to properly regulate and monitor it.

He expressed this view when asked on state Police Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor’s recent statement that the police would be fully enforcing the Second-Hand Dealer’s Act from February 1 and would be launching a state-wide operation to go after unlicensed dealers of second-hand goods.

According to Mazlan, with the enforcement of the Act, the police would be able to monitor those who purchase stolen goods and be more effective in reducing the number of cable and metal thefts in the state.

“I am very happy and applaud the Commissioner of Police Sarawak for his proactive action to go after unlicensed dealers of second-hand goods, which somehow could be a party to metal and cable theft.

Stop making excuses

January 7, 2017

KUCHING: The authorities must stop giving flimsy excuses when it comes to enforcing the Second-Hand Dealers Act 1946.

Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said enforcement of the Act, which was extended to the state in 2014, had been weak resulting in metal thefts being committed almost with impunity.

“Before the Second-Hand Dealers Act was extended to Sarawak, the reason given by the police for rampant theft of cables, metal, house grilles, and manhole covers was because they could not act much since the Act was not extended.

“I had my reservations then because I’ve all along believed that this problem is related to enforcement and commitment of the parties in this business in wanting to eradicate this menace,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Karim said as long as there are buyers of scrap metal, such thefts would still continue.