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Friday December 24, 2010
Customs rakes in RM500mil in seizures
KUANTAN: The Customs Department recorded its highest contraband seizures amounting to RM500.5mil this year. Most of the items seized were cigarettes which were worth RM80mil.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Yusof said the seizures reflected the efficient action and sound intelligence work carried out by its staff in their efforts to curb smuggling activities in the country.
“This is the first time the department has managed to record such an amount. Prior to this, the amount of illegal goods seized was between RM100mil and RM200mil.
“We have never registered such a huge amount of contraband seized before this, and this is something that we can be proud of,’’ he told reporters after opening the department’s national-level innovation and integrity day celebrations at Wisma Belia here yesterday.
Mohamed Khalid contributed the success to his officers’ meticulous planning and intelligence that helped them to foil smuggling attempts.
“The department will never compromise on these illegal acts. Anyone dealing in bringing in cigarettes must pay their taxes,” he added.
He also said the department had collected RM27.3bil in taxes so far this year compared to RM25bil in 2009.
“We are confident that our department will achieve this year’s target to collect RM28bil in taxes,” he added.
Earlier, Mohamad Khalid presented 11 innovation and quality awards to exemplary individuals and groups for quality management, innovation, quality control and excellence in effective implementation.
He also launched the department’s innovation strategic plan aimed at enhancing the efficiency and quality of their services.
Mohamad Khalid signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers to encourage its members to step up efforts to submit tax payments to the department.
