Minister puts end to pig bristle brush raids

Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainudin today confirmed that he has instructed the ministry's enforcement division to stop conducting raids on shops selling pig bristle brushes.

Hamzah said he had informed the ministry's enforcement division director Roslan Mahayudin of the decision.

Asked on the reasons why the raids were being halted, Hamzah this had to do with Malaysia's multi-racial and multi-religious character.

"We must all work towards living in a harmonious society. We shouldn't play with fire," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added that the issue had been blown out of proportion by the media and on the internet.

While agreeing that traders had the responsibility to inform consumers of the nature of a particular product, Hamzah stressed that consumers, likewise, must also ask question if they were unsure about a certain product.

"This issue shouldn't be dividing us," he stressed.

[More to follow]

-Mkini