THE Royal Malaysia Customs Department’s focus on eradicating corruption among its ranks while increasing its efforts to tackle the illegal cigarette trade has resulted in tangible progress.

The number of illegal cigarettes seized and confiscated has increased by over 20% in 1Q 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Malaysia Integrity and Governance Society (MIG).

Illegal cigarette prevalence in Malaysia has seen an improvement from 56.4% in January 2024 to 55.4% in March 2024 according to Nielsen’s Illicit Cigarette Study in Malaysia.

“When the current Customs director-general, Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin (main image, right) was appointed on Sept 23 last year, she has vowed to seriously be going all out to address corruption.” recalled MIG’s president Datuk Seri Dr Akhbar Satar.

“One of the strategies was done through personnel transfer by replacing and acting against rogue officers who allegedly took bribes from smuggling syndicates and caused billions in losses to the country’s revenue.”.

In April, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim praised the first Malaysian woman Customs DG for her brave and swift action in removing errant staff from their workplace at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Cargo terminal and taking disciplinary action against them.

“The PM also described her actions as exemplary to motivate more leaders to act rather than hiding and protecting those who commit wrongdoings,” noted Akhbar who was also the former Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president.

“Recent news reports have also put a spotlight a series of high-profile raids, including RM12.8 mil contraband cigarettes and liquor busts by the Melaka Customs at two separate raids in Johor. At another high-profile case in Negri Sembilan, the Customs seized over RM 600,000 worth of illicit cigarettes and liquor at a three-storey bungalow which was rented by Bangladesh nationals.”

Job security at stake

The founder of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)-Malaysia Chapter nevertheless expressed concern over Anis Rizana’s job future given her bold efforts may be unpopular to those without integrity and corrupted, hence there may be on-going behind-the-scenes action to remove her from her position”.

“Government leaders and all Malaysians should encourage, support and protect the Customs DG as well as other dedicated, hardworking and honest personnel at the Customs Department so that they can perform their duties to the best of their abilities without fear and repercussions,” asserted Akhbar.

“We shouldn’t let a few bad apples destroy our country’s enforcement institutions.”

A week ago, a Customs officer was charged in the Sessions Court in Johor with 38 bribery charges amounting to RM14,950 while on duty as a Senior Customs Assistant at KLIA between 2017 and 2021.

Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail charged the ex- Customs officer under Section 165 of the Penal Code whereby he could face up to two years imprisonment or a fine or both if convicted.

More recently, three Customs officers were charged in the Shah Alam sessions court a few days ago (image above) for accepting bribes since 2017.

They were said to have received the bribes from the 38-year-old owner of a company through online transactions as an incentive to let lorries from the company to go unchecked when exiting the KLIA Cargo terminal.

The unscrupulous officers were charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act whereby they face up to 20 years in jail or a minimum fine of RM10,000 if convicted. – June 2, 2024

Main image credit: American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (@AmChamMalaysia) via X

The post Ex-graft buster praises Malaysia’s first female Customs DG for all-out effort to combat illicit ciggie sale first appeared on Focus Malaysia.