China-made candies which are detrimental to health has been banned by neighbouring countries but are still found in abundance in Malaysian sundry shops.

"They are widespread now and most of the consumers are the poor who cannot afford branded items that are more expensive, particularly children," said Kuching Consumer Association president Bujang Ulis.

He said the long-term effects of the China-made sweets can be disastrous as most of them are found to be laced with dangerous chemicals.

"A study conducted by a watch group led to the banning of the sweets in Indonesia but there are still plenty in Malaysia, especially in Sarawak. These were perhaps dumped here due to the ban across the border," he said.

There are also reports in the Philippines that certain sweets were tainted with formaldehyde - a chemical preservative that can cause cancer.

But shipments of the candies to the Philippines were resumed after tests by the Chinese government showed no traces of the chemical.

Bujang said the phenomenon was rather puzzling taking into account the many authorities tasked with checking food sales and regulation in this country.

"We have local councils, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Health, customs, Ministry of International Trade and Industries ... but nobody seems to be taking it seriously," he pointed.

To his knowledge, Bujang said, before any product is allowed to be offered for sale, it has to go through detailed checks and pass a health screening test.

"It is rather ironic that we are strict with local manufacturers but seem to be lenient towards foreign exporters," he lamented.

"Why are we pampering foreign producers and allowing them to sell hazardous and unhealthy food here?" he asked.

Cheap and innovative

Bujang also took to task the authorities for failing to check on the sale of toiletries such as toothpaste, soap and skin care products that are dangerous.

"Many products on sale in Malaysia are already banned worldwide but are still easily available here, there must be something very wrong with the relevant ministry," he added.

Apart from this, the consumer association president also urged the relevant authorities to check on the sale of electrical appliances that are not only inferior in quality but dangerous to the users as well.

Meanwhile, a sundry shop operator in Kuching told malaysiakini that the influx of China-made sweets is partly due to the bigger companies' economic of scale move.

"You can see for yourself that most of the branded item are now being manufactured in China. Most of them have stop producing in Malaysia especially international confectionaries," he said.

The businessman, who declined to be named, said it is safe to say that 50 percent of the sweet market is already controlled by China-made sweets, while the rest include local and other imports.

He went on to say that products from China are not only cheap but also innovative.

"This lollipop," he said, showing a particular product, "only costs 50 sen but would light up when pressed.

"Furthermore, they are made in compliance with ISO procedure," he concluded.

Malaysiakini sent an email to a senior official with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs regarding this issue but has yet to receive a response.