The need to heighten the battle against counterfeit goods really hit home when Malaysian police discovered that they were recently cheated into paying RM5 million ($1.6 million) for imitation spare parts for police patrol cars and police vehicles.
The Malaysian police force use mostly Malaysian Proton and Perodua automobiles in its fleet of 21,000 vehicles nationwide.
The scam was uncovered when a police logistics officer discovered something amiss and sent more than 90 of the suspected spare parts to the Proton headquarters for further verification. At least 70 of them were found to be imitation parts.
The whole incident left the police red faced and a full investigation was ordered. Investigations are still ongoing to ascertain whether this was the first time such a situation had occurred or how long such activities had been going on. Extensive investigations are also being carried out to identify the suppliers involved and whether previous spare part consignments ordered by the Police logistics department also included fakes.
Malaysian police are not the only ones affected by fake car parts. An increasing number of motorists in Malaysia are unknowingly purchasing fake car parts such as tyres, brakes and other safety equipment. They are no doubt oblivious to the danger posed by the use of such parts. Due to the cheaper prices, numerous fake car parts are now distributed throughout the automobile market. Surveys indicate that this has not only affected locally manufactured cars such as Proton and Perodua but also foreign cars as well.
Vigorous efforts have been initiated by the government to weed out the counterfeit goods. Early this year police and enforcement officers representing the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs seized fake Proton vehicle parts worth RM200, 000 from spare part dealers in Kuala Lumpur.
The situation with the police is a sign that the anti-counterfeiting battle is far from over, but it has had the positive effect of encouraging the relevant authorities to step up action against counterfeit goods finding their way into the market.
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| Patrick Mirandah |
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