KUALA LUMPUR: A supermarket here which sold sugar only if shoppers bought other items landed itself in trouble.
The city's Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry enforcement unit raided the outlet in Bandar Sri Damansara and confiscated 3.5 tonnes of sugar worth more than RM5,000 on Saturday.
Enforcement unit director Othman Nawang said they sent three female officers to work undercover after receiving complaints from the public.
"Our officers found out that the packets of sugar were kept at the cashier's counter and customers were asked to buy other items before being allowed to buy sugar at RM1.45 per kg."
The officers then identified themselves and on being questioned, the cashiers and other staff said that it was the directive from the supermarket owner.
"It is illegal to force shoppers to buy other items before they could purchase an item they wanted," he said.
"We have confiscated 20 packets of sugar that was at the counter."
Othman said the staff also led the officers to a store at the back of the supermarket another 3.5 tonnes of sugar were found. It was also confiscated and sent to the Segambut depot.
"We believe the supermarket owners were hoarding the item to make a profit since there seems to be a shortage of sugar in many areas."
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