KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Shop owners whose paint brushes made from pig bristles were seized will be given one month to label and separate them from other products.
Consumerism, Domestic Trade and Cooperatives Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said those who failed to comply with the order after that may face legal action.
“If they abide by the order to label the products clearly, that it is made from pig or dog hair, we will then return their items back to them because we gave them a one month period to comply.
“But if they fail to do so, we will then keep the brushes as evidence for the next course of action,” Hamzah told Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian during Question Time in Parliament today.
Pigs and dogs as well as products made from them are considered haram or forbidden to Muslims, who form over 60 per cent of the Malaysian population.
Hamzah said the brushes were confiscated following a Cabinet meeting on the issue in a bid to ensure harmony among the people.
He added that his ministry’s enforcement officers have been visiting businesses since March 9 to check if traders have followed the segregation and labelling order.
National newswire Bernama reported yesterday that 2,003 porcine paintbrushes worth nearly RM11,000 had been seized nationwide for allegedly violation of the Trade Descriptions (Goods Made from any Part of Pig or Dog) Order 2013.
Those found guilty of breaking the minister’s order can be punished with up to three years’ jail, RM100,000 fines for individuals, or both. Business entities can be separately fined up to RM250,000.
