KUALA LIMPUR: Enforcement officers from the Energy Commission and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry have teamed up to inspect factories and retail outlets which distribute counterfeit electrical items carrying Sirim labels.

The officers, with Sirim's help, would check the labels attached to the "fakes", including fans and irons, produced by factories nationwide and on sale at retail outlets.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry enforcement division director-general Abdullah Mohamed Nawawi said the commission, which faced a staff shortage, had sought the ministry's help after Sirim discovered there were imitation electrical appliances carrying its label which were being sold.

"We will have to carry out the joint operation in view of the many cases involving the misuse of Sirim labels for imitation electrical items. We view this seriously as the products could endanger consumers' lives," he told reporters after meeting from Sirim and the commission at his office yesterday.

"For instance, there are some fake plugs and switches which are sold for RM2 each which have been attached with Sirim labels," he said.

He said there were also instances where fake Sirim labels had been attached on some electrical equipment.

A joint operation must be also be carried out as it is not easy for consumers to establish whether the Sirim labels are genuine or false. That is why we need Sirim's expertise during the operation," he said.

He said offenders could be charged either under the Trade Description Act or the Electricity Supply Act.

On some electrical appliances carrying Electricity Supply Department labels instead of Sirim ones, he said: "Those are the old labels. Electrical appliances should now carry the Sirim labels."