PETALING JAYA, May 16 — Pos Malaysia is conducting an investigation following Malay Mail’s expose that a flare and smoke bomb were couriered via PosLaju from Kulaijaya to the daily’s office in Redberry City here.

The national postal and courier service provider had, in a statement yesterday, said it was mandatory for senders to declare the items to be delivered to ensure they were not hazardous or prohibited.

Among the prohibited items listed in Postlaju’s Consignment Notes are firearms, combustible materials and drugs.

“These measures are consistent with the international best practices of postal and courier operators,” said the statement.

“Pos Malaysia always endeavours to exercise due care in its operations. In this instance, such care has been observed, implemented and complied with by Pos Malaysia/PosLaju. There was no reasonable ground for PosLaju to suspect the package would pose any physical danger to other persons or property.”

The statement, signed by group head, corporate communications and customer care, Datuk Rohaiza Hashim, said Pos Malaysia may only open a postal article under Section 45 of the Postal Services Act.

“This includes to secure the contents, if there were reasonable grounds to suspect there is a physical danger to persons or property, if there were health risks, or by court order,” it said.

“In this case, (there was) none of the circumstances which allow Pos Malaysia to open the postal article as stipulated in the Act.”

Posing as a football fan, Malay Mail had recently bought a flare and smoke bomb online for RM75. The items were labelled as “hub breaks” (brake hubs) and couriered to the office in Section 13 within days.

The address of the sender was in Kulaijaya, Johor Baru.

Consumer groups said they were surprised such products were easily obtained online and sent through PosLaju.

Flares and smoke bombs have hogged the news lately as football fans light them in the stands. Such items were also lit in broad daylight in Kuala Lumpur during the anti-Goods and Services Tax rally on May 1.

The possession and sales of such flammable items are deemed illegal under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act.