I harbour no prejudice against anyone but I value the security and peace in my housing area. The situation has become bad in the last three years due to the mushrooming of second-hand metal traders, better know as karung guni. There is one giant centre in my area and branches else where are doing well within just three years.
One wanders why this business is so lucrative. The fact that metal thefts have increased in the in the area makes us very worried. Old metal of any sort is quickly snapped up.
Valuable urns are stolen from temples and cooking utensils are flattened immediately to prevent the owners from recognising them.
New copper wires are cut into short lengths and sold in gunny sacks, and bicycles are sold by teenagers.
How can the trade be so rampant? Are the authorities aware of this practice? There are police patrol cars driving around but nothing is done. Is this called enforcement?
The good intentions of the authorities to encourage recycling has turned it into a dubious trade. There must be a system where items sold to these karung guni care recorded. I propose that ab officer goes undercover and closed a deal to find out how the traders operate. This trade has gone out of control due to poor enforcement.
Posted in the NST dated 26 August,2008
by Lim Hong Kai
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