Task force on port revenue leakage still under discussion, says Customs
The Customs Department says talks with the MACC on setting up a special task force have yet to be finalised.
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) says a proposal to set up a special task force to tackle revenue leakage at ports is still being discussed between the department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
JKDM said details of the proposed cooperation would only be announced once both agencies reach an agreement.
"This matter is still under discussion between the two agencies.
"Official information will be shared with the media once it is finalised," it said in a statement.
On July 15, MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman was quoted as saying the proposal to establish the task force had been discussed with his JKDM counterpart, Amran Ahmad.
Also discussed were challenges relating specifically to customs inspection work, as well as bureaucratic red tape and various domestic issues faced by JKDM.
Amran was reported to have shared information on the tactics used by syndicates to avoid paying taxes, including smuggling activities and the falsification of information or documents to obtain approvals under different categories.
The development comes as industry players raise governance issues at ports, particularly over claims of discrepancies between bills of lading and the physical movement of petroleum cargo.
No timeline or structure for the proposed task force has been announced by either agency so far.
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