KUCHING, Oct 1: The police have been urged to constantly monitor the activities of scrap metal dealers after a mechanic suspected stolen vehicles from his workshops have ended at a yard in Muara Tuang.
SUPP Public Complaints Bureau (SPCB) chief Wilfred Yap said the mechanic had approached the bureau for advice and assistance following the discovery.
According to the mechanic, a van, two cars and four motorcycles sent for maintenance and repairs at his home workshop in his village were stolen during his absence.
After discovering that the vehicles and motorcycles can be found at the scrap metal yard, the mechanic and motor vehicle owners lodged a police report for investigations to be carried out.
“We hope that the police will strictly enforce the Second-Hand Dealer’s Act and step up their efforts to stringently monitor the activities of second-hand dealers, as they provide an avenue for thieves to sell their stolen metal items.
“If the police starts checking closely on these scrap yard dealers, they might think twice about buying stolen metal items,” Yap said in a statement.
He added that tight enforcement is the solution to overcome such issue. It is timely for the relevant authorities to further tighten the law and impose stricter rules and regulations on those buying and selling scrap metals.
SPCP has have written to the Sarawak police commissioner to request the police to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation on the matter, based on the police reports lodged.
“We will continue to follow up and monitor the situation closely until the investigations on the problem facing the mechanic is completed by the police and the culprits responsible properly dealt with under the law,” he said.
Yap added that the bureau is always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone facing problems or who come across problems of public interest but does not know how to deal with it.
Anyone requiring assistance can contact SPCB at 016-7797688 or 082-246999, or go direct to SUPP head office. — DayakDaily
