The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (MCDF) is prepared to assist the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) to control leakages at the border and monitor the prices of controlled items in the country.

MCDF Acting Chief Commissioner Datuk Selamat Dahalan said the willingness was based on the strength of the MCDF manpower which had reached 1.2 million and would benefit the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism in controlling smuggling and monitoring the prices of goods.

"With the large manpower, we can assist any enforcement agency including KPDNKK in monitoring prices," he said when asked on the cooperation with the KPDNKK to assist in tightening enforcement by the ministry.

He said this at a press conference after the official opening of the new building for the Tawau Civil Defence Office at Batu 2 Jalan Apas which will act as a Forward Base for the Tawau MCDF emergency team and a one-stop information centre for the management of disaster for local residents. -- Bernama