BAU: Officials from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry are currently focusing on mechanisms to eradicate the smuggling of subsidised controlled goods at the Serikin border here.
Its Secretary-General Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof said it involves goods such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), cooking oil, petrol, diesel, sugar and wheat flour.
“This smuggling issue at Malaysia’s international border which consists of countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, is among the main concerns to the ministry.
“The Ministry is looking into the leakage of controlled goods seriously as it can result in huge losses to the country.
“These goods that should be enjoyed by Malaysians, have been smuggled by irresponsible parties to neighbouring countries in order to reap profits from such activity,” he said.
Based on enforcement statistics from Jan until Sept this year, the ministry has recorded a total of 427 cases of smuggling of subsidised controlled goods at the country’s border gates under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, involving a seizure amounting to RM69.74 million.
Hence, Azman said the Ministry will continue to network and strengthen cooperation with other enforcement agencies to improve enforcement activities at the national border.
“This aims to overcome the smuggling through integrated operations and due diligence actions by conducting audits in every distribution chain of controlled goods,” he said.
Yesterday (Oct 23), Azman was on a working visit at the Serikin border control post with Ministry Deputy Director-General of Enforcement (Operations) Shamsul Nizam Khalil, its Petroleum Regulatory Division director Zaimy Shaari, its Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin and its Sarawak Enforcement chief officer Peter J.Berinus Agang.
The visit was to monitor the current situation at the Malaysia-Indonesia border in Serikin following the re-opening of the Serikin border control post to revive trade activities between the two countries in line with the re-opening of the Serikin Market.
In addition, it is also to strengthen the cooperation between the Ministry and other enforcement agencies that control the borders.
