Home Ministry denies govt agencies supply firecrackers during festivals

The Home Ministry today denied that government agencies like Customs Department and the Anti-Smuggling Unit (UPP) were responsible for supplying firecrackers during the festive season.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said smuggling activities for such products was rampant due to high demand from the various races in the country who celebrate a number of festivals.

The country's proximity of Malaysia-Thailand, Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan, Indonesia borders and the border along the Strait of Melaka and South China Sea are long and wide.

"We have specific regulations to keep such products as exhibit. Claims that the departments supplied fire crackers is not true," he said when answering a question from Ab Aziz Ab Kadir (PAS-Ketereh) in Dewan Rakyat today.

Ab Aziz wanted to know the procedure for storing fire crackers seized as well clarification on claims that the products were supplied by the enforcement agencies.

Abu Seman said the government had banned the use of firecrackers since 1995 for safety reasons because numerous incidents had occurred while playing firecrackers and caused huge amount of damages, including death.

"So far no casualties or accidents involving firecrackers has been reported to the police," he said.