Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor hopes the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Sabah, which successfully collected revenue of RM2,098,625,366.45 in 2022, can further increase the revenue collection this year.
He said JKDM plays a very important role in the development of the country because all the revenue collected would be channelled for development projects and welfare of the people.
“I congratulate JKDM Sabah for the revenue collection achieved in 2022. I hope that this can be increased further in 2023.
“Although the year 2023 is a challenging year for civil servants especially in terms of economy, as the country’s main revenue collector there is no doubt that JKDM will overcome these various obstacles and challenges,” he said at a Charity Dinner organised by the Sabah Senior Customs Officers Association at Shangrila Tanjung Aru Resort here Tuesday.
His speech was read by the State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
The Chief Minister believed that as long as the Customs personnel continue to work according to the department’s slogan which is Trust, Service, Sincerity, Dedication (ABID), they would definitely achieve many more results because the ABID slogan can also help improve the performance and excellence of JKDM’s image.
He said JKDM deserves to be called the National Economic Hero for its commitment to improving the national economy, besides having played an important role in providing facilities to encourage foreign investors, especially to Sabah.
According to him, the black economy that exists from widespread smuggling activities from the illegal sources of the country needs to be eliminated immediately because it gives a negative impact to the nation.
He said the Customs Department should always be alert and prepared in an effort to eliminate smuggling activities in this era of a borderless world, using the latest communication and information technologies that are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
“Therefore, efforts must be redoubled to eradicate every form of smuggling activities in Sabah. I believe the Customs Department has enough strength in terms of manpower, logistics and systems to deal with smuggling activities in this State. It is the responsibility of the department to ensure that the country’s revenue does not fall into the wrong hands,” he stressed.
Hajiji hoped the JKDM personnel practise strong and intact integrity in carrying out their duties and reject the culture of corruption so that it does not become a practice in this country.
“Without strong and intact Integrity, it is certain that the country will be destroyed,” he said.
He also hoped that JKDM personnel would continue to join hands and work hard to help the country re-stimulate economic growth to a better level.
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