Protecting consumers: Muralitharan (centre) showing the unregistered condoms seized in the raid in Sungai Petani, Kedah, during a press conference at the MDA headquarters in Cyberjaya. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
CYBERJAYA: For three years, an unlicensed spa resort in Sungai Petani, Kedah, made a small fortune from selling unregistered condoms to teenagers and those who wanted to keep their flings discreet.
The spa did this via online trading platforms in order to evade the authorities’ radar until they were busted by the Health Ministry and the police on Thursday.
The raid uncovered RM5,000 worth of unregistered condoms at the spa resort in Taman Pekan Baru, Sungai Petani, said Medical Device Authority (MDA) chief executive officer Muralitharan Paramasua.
A total of 501 units of condoms were confiscated during the raid which involved nine MDA enforcement officers and three police officers.
“The raid was carried out to prevent unregistered medical devices from entering the Malaysian market,” Muralitharan told reporters during a press conference at the MDA building here.
“We look to protect consumers from the harms that come from these unregistered condoms as they can expose people to sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and HIV,” he added.
Muralitharan advised shop owners, healthcare providers and the public to always check the licence of a retail store and the registration details of its products at www.mda.gov.my and mdar.mda.gov.my.
Complaints can also be filed against unregistered medical products or unlicensed companies via the MDA Feedback Management System (Femes).
“MDA is always monitoring the sale of medical products and we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who violates the Medical Device Act 2012 (Act 737),” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 5(1) of Act 737 for selling an unregistered medical device.
It is also being investigated under Section 15(1) of the same act for selling a medical device under an unlicensed company.
If found guilty, both sections provide a fine of RM200,000 or imprisonment up to three years or both.
