CONSIDERING the ongoing genocide currently being perpetrated by Israel, it is logical that any news of their products making it onto Malaysian shelves would go viral due to the intense outrage it would trigger.
Recently, such a claim went viral - that dates from Israel were seized by the authorities here. Is there any truth to this?
VERDICT:
TRUE
This is in fact true, and it was confirmed by Customs Department deputy director-general (Enforcement/Compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad.
He said that three premises in Petaling Jaya and Klang were raided on Tuesday (March 12) and 14.6kg of dates estimated to be worth RM678 were seized.
"The raid and checks were conducted after a video was circulated on social media recently claiming that several shops were selling dates which originated from Israel," said Sazali.
He added that the dates were declared as foodstuff when being brought in and said that the 73 boxes of dates were labelled as "Organic Jumbo Medjool Dates".
He said the label on the box clearly states that it is a product of Israel and added that the dates were all brought in a sack and were later repackaged in order to be sold.
Sazali added that the investigation revealed the dates were first brought into Europe before they were distributed to other countries.
"Based on our checks the dates were brought to Malaysia in 2022 with other food items," he told reporters at the North Port Customs Department Office on Wednesday (March 13).
Sazali said they also detained a man in his 40s and added that he is believed to be the business owner.
When asked, Sazali said any product that originates from Israel requires a special permit from the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti).
He also did not rule out that further action would be taken against anyone else found selling the same product.
Anyone with information on such products can contact the Customs Department toll-free hotline at 1800 88 8855 or go to the nearest Customs Department office and the identities of informants would be kept strictly confidential.
