‘Sinalau bakas’ seller’s claim false — Police
KOTA KINABALU: Police have confirmed that the owner of the ‘sinalau bakas’ (roasted wild boar) stall at Jalan Sulaman who was slapped with a RM50,000 fine on Monday, April 26, had violated the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the action taken by authorities was appropriate and based on the law, and not as claimed by netizens in social media that police had taken drastic action.
“Police received complaints from residents that a stall was playing loud karaoke music right till midnight while selling liquor to customers.
“Allegation made by the owner claiming that the stall was about to close for the night when police raided the premises was also not true as the police team found the premises was still in operation with loud music playing as the team was making the raid.
“There were still customers inside the premises while cans of alcoholic drinks were on the tables. The allegation that two of the owner’s friends who wanted to take him home were actually employees of the owner.
“We have captured all the evidence which clearly shows the owner had violated SOPs,” said Hazani in a press conference yesterday.
Hazani said besides violating the SOP, the owner will also be fined for operating the premises without proper licence.
“The owner also did not have any licence to sell liquor to the public, did not have any licence to operate entertainment outlets, and did not have a valid licence to buy or sell wild animal meat from the Sabah Wildlife Department,” said Hazani.
The incident took place when police issued a fine of RM50,000 to the man who sells roasted wild boar, better known as sinalau bakas, along Jalan Sulaman here on Monday (April 26).
The owner, Rayner Longtin, 32, claimed that the incident happened around 10pm on Monday when operations at his stall had already ceased.
Rayner stated that he had followed the SOP by keeping the MySejahtera QR code, thermometer and customer attendance notebook in his stall.
“At that time, some customers were still in the stall but had already registered before eating there.
“My two friends were waiting to send me home but I couldn’t leave yet because of the customers at the stall,” he said, as quoted by FMT.
Rayner said several policemen then suddenly came and asked him to take out the MySejahtera QR code, thermometer and customer attendance notebook.
“They had the right to ask me to do that but I didn’t know the purpose as my stall was already closed.
“I was shocked when they issued a notice demanding that I pay a compound fine of RM50,000. My two friends were also issued notices indicating a RM10,000 fine each.”
Rayner claimed that five or six customers eating at his stall were not issued any summonses because they had already scanned the MySejahtera QR code.
He therefore questioned why the police had issued such a high fine.
Meanwhile, Hazani said netizens who only listen to ‘oneside of the story’ and accused the authority for taking severe actions are seen as a form of provocation to the security forces who have carried out their duties with discretion especially during the movement control order (MCO).
“I advise the public not to use social media in the hope of provoking or pointing fingers towards the authorities as if we are not carrying out our jobs or responsibilities.
“I have instructed all district police chiefs and frontliners to take immediate action against anyone caught trying to violate the SOP. We will not compromise anymore and action will be taken immediately,” he said.