FIRE CRACKERS BAN: WHO ELSE BEEN CAUGHT AND CHARGED?

Two men were each fined RM6,000 and have to serve a four-days jail sentence each for illegal possession of fire crackers during a football match at the Penang State Stadium in Batu Kawan on 11 February 2016.

One of the men had 12 firecrackers while the other had four.

The two men were charged under Section 8 of the Explosive Act 1957 which carries a maximum seven-year jail sentence, a RM10,000 fine, or both, if convicted.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) does not condone these men’s actions but it questions whether any action has been taken against others who possessed and played with firecrackers/fireworks during the recent Chinese New Year.

The unmistakeable sound of firecrackers and fireworks was deafening and jarring like that of a war zone during the Chinese New Year.

CAP wants to know if any violators of the ban have been caught during the festive seasons and the recent Chinese New Year because none was reported in the media. If they were caught, they too should be charged under the same Act and subjected to the same punishment.

Only then justice is seen to be done.

Letter to the Editor , 17 February 2017