MELAKA: A sundry shop in the Tanjung Minyak Perdana industrial was caught storing vegetables in a toilet.
The shop also failed to comply with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
This was uncovered during a surprise inspection under Op Samar last month by the Melaka office of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The ministry's Melaka director, Norena Jaafar, said the shop operated by foreigners was inspected on Sept 30 from 10am to 1pm after two days of surveillance prompted by public complaints.
"During the inspection, enforcement officers found vegetables intended for sale being stored in the shop's toilet. We suspect the vegetables were washed there before being sold.
"When the price tags on all items were being checked, we found expired instant laksa packs," she said today.
She said the shop, a joint venture between locals and foreigners, committed several offences under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, including failing to comply with the 2020 Price Tag Order for Goods and Service Charges and charging for delivery.
"The shop sold expired goods and did not maintain proper hygiene practices for items intended for sale.
"We also found rat droppings beneath a refrigerator inside the premises."