The Sandakan Municipal Council President Yeo Boon Hai warned scrap iron dealers that they could lose their trading license, coupled with a court conviction, if they are found in possession of stolen metals or those belonging to the Malaysian government.
Offenders risk being fined of up to RM 5,000 (US$1,325) upon conviction under the council's Dealing in Scrap By-Laws.
Yeo said theft of metal objects, including iron, had become a critical situation in the municipality, thereby posing a serious concern to the authorities concerned.
In this respect, he said that the council would monitor the situation by conducting surprise inspections on scrap iron yards throughout the municipality, where the operators had to produce records of purchases.
Members of the public are also urged for their cooperation to alert the police or the council if they come across theft of metal activities going on in their respective areas. Sabah Daily Express