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Wednesday April 11, 2007

Dogs to tackle pirated disc hub

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

PUTRAJAYA: There is more work ahead for Lucky and Flo, with a three-month extension of their stay on the cards.

For one, the optical disc-sniffing dogs will play an integral role in fighting piracy at Holiday Plaza in Johor Baru, which Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal says is the “epicentre” for pirated discs in the country.

The two Labradors will also be the subjects of a study by the authorities in determining whether Malaysia needs its own dog unit to help fight the menace.

Shafie said that with the help of Lucky and Flo, the ministry planned to end the illegal activities in the shopping complex, which is notorious for selling pirated DVDs and CDs.

He said he was impressed with the ability of Lucky and Flo during an operation codenamed Double Trouble at Holiday Plaza on March 20, in which pirated optical discs worth RM10mil were seized.

“Arrangements are currently being made to extend the services of Lucky and Flo for another three months.

“I have also directed our office in Johor to beef up enforcement, particularly in Holiday Plaza. If Lucky and Flo can do it, I don’t see why we can’t,” he said yesterday.

Lucky and Flo arrived in Malaysia from Ireland on March 13 as part of the ministry’s latest piracy eradication programme.

The dogs are trained to detect the polycarbonate and other chemicals used in the manufacture of all optical discs.

Shafie said that in many countries the optical disc industry was a multi-billion dollar industry but not in Malaysia, no thanks to piracy.

He said that in the first four months of this year the ministry’s enforcement division had carried out more than 100,000 inspections nationwide, recorded 813 cases and seized goods worth RM116mil.

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