It was previously reported that at least two NTUC FairPrice outlets have started locking up their baby milk powders behind barriers as part of efforts to prevent shoplifting.
Bukit Batok SMC MP Murali Pillai, made a clarification on Facebook Live, after being “concerned” that the situation was being misread by the public.
Murali was seen in the Facebook live video with an employee of the supermarket, and clarified that the anti-theft measures were meant to deter thieves who resell the stolen products.
He said that some netizens were under the impression that the measures had targetted those who are not able to afford baby milk powders, and confirmed that this was not the case.
He reiterated his point that FairPrice is concerned about people who steal with the view of making a profit, meaning selling and making a profit.
Recap
Twitter user Shawn Lim, shared on his Twitter page about how FairPrice has started locking up baby milk powder because of thefts.
Lim tweeted: “FairPrice has started locking up baby milk powder because apparently they are being stolen. Breaks my heart that there are people out there struggling to feed their babies”
He accompanied his tweet with a photo of the rows of baby milk powders being locked behind a transparent glass.
A spokesperson for FairPrice said that this is part of a new initiative at their Bukit Batok MRT outlet, in a bid to prevent shoplifting.
The spokesperson added that the baby milk powders and other similar products are among the items that are typically shoplifted.
They added that they began the trial of the new initiative about 2 weeks ago, and that they will continue to assess the feasibility of continuing or extending this initiative.
