The Star Online > Central Saturday May 8, 2010
Councillors warn the public to be careful when dealing with runners
By JADE CHAN jade@thestar.com.my
THE public should be careful when dealing with agents or runners who claim they can fast-track applications with local authorities, Subang Jaya Municipal councillor Tan Jo Hann said recently.
“Here, it is best that they apply directly to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) and pay at the MPSJ counter,” he said.
“It is also council policy that the employees do not accept any tokens — whether in cash or kind — when dealing with over-the-counter services.
“Should that ever happen, one should report the incident to the councillors, department heads or even the MPSJ president,” Tan said.
Tan was speaking at a press conference to highlight the case of a businessman who was cheated by a man claiming to be an MPSJ employee who could help with licence applications.
The woman, who wanted to be identified as Wong, said she wanted to apply for the licences on behalf of a client to hold an outdoor handphone and IT equipment fair next to Tesco Puchong from April 29 to May 2.
“Sometime in mid-March, a man who identified himself as Anif offered to help with my licence applications,” Wong, 33, said.
“He claimed he could help with all the processes, and since it was my first time organising such an event, I thought he could.
“After several phone calls, meetings and paying Anif RM2,300 for his service fees, he gave me a letter with the MPSJ letterhead and said that I just needed to show the letter at the MPSJ counter and pay the licence fee (which would cost RM300).”
To her shock, there was no record of her application when she went to the MPSJ office to make the payment two weeks before the fair.
It was later discovered that she had been given false documentation with a genuine MPSJ letterhead, and that the reference number for her application belonged to someone else.
Wong then reported the incident to Tan, who advised her to lodge a police report. The MPSJ also subsequently lodged a police report.
Since time was short, Tan helped her with her licence applications, which totalled more than RM3,000 for rental space, tents and cleaning fees.
Councillor Ng Sze Han said it was not necessary for the public to engage a runner or agent with regard to any application with the MPSJ.
In fact, they can download the application forms from the MPSJ website and submit them directly at the counter.
“Depending on the type of application, the applicant will be able to get an answer on the spot or after two weeks.
Tan and Ng, both of whom sit on the MPSJ Audit and Good Governance Committee, said Wong’s case would be investigated.
“We will find out whether the scammer was working hand-in-hand with an inside source and track down the scammer to see if he is a former employee or impersonating an MPSJ employee,” Tan said.
“Most importantly, we advise the public to be careful as it can happen to anyone,” he said.
He also urged victims of similar scams to come forward and inform the councillors.
Also reported in China Press and Nanyang:
