BINTULU: Sarawak is one of the states in the country that has the highest number of cases of cigarette smuggling, said Royal Malaysian Customs Department deputy director-general (Enforcement and Compliance) Datuk Matrang Suhaili.
According to him, last year about 187 cases were recorded in the state involving the seizure of 4.9 million sticks of illegal cigarettes worth RM309,000 and RM2.5 million in taxes.
“In Bintulu about 60 cases were recorded involving tax evasion amounting to RM24,000,” he said.
The statistics, he said, showed how serious the situation was, which needed cooperation from the local community and other enforcement agencies.
“One commodity that is very critical and being smuggled into the country is cigarette. This is because of its high demand as well as high tax rates.
“The present study has found that 32 per cent of cigarettes sold in the market throughout the country are contraband cigarettes,” he said during the ‘Khidmat Bakti Masyarakat’ at Kpg Jepak near here yesterday.
He said the smuggling of cigarettes had deprived the government of RM1.9 billion in uncollected revenue annually.
On average, every year Customs collected some RM3.5 billion in taxes on cigarettes which constituted about 11 per cent of the country’s total revenue of RM33.13 billion, and is the second largest contributor after vehicles.
As a measure, Customs Department had been conducting special operations nationwide, especially along the borders of the country.
“All of these operations are intended to prevent smuggling and break the supply chain of contraband cigarettes,” he added.
He said the public could play a part in combating the crime by informing Customs of such activities.
It would be impossible for the department to monitor the vast area of Sarawak effectively without the support of local people and smart partnership with other enforcement agencies, he elaborated.
Assistant Minister of Tourism and Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip officiated at the ‘Khidmat Bakti’ programme.
Talib described smugglers as criminals who pose a threat to the country’s stability.
As such, he asked for the people’s cooperation.
“Just inform Customs if you see any smuggling activities around you and this effort also needs cooperation from other enforcement agencies,” he said.
Various activities such as sports, gotong-rotong, awareness talks, GST talk and exhibition were held in conjunction with the programme.
Also present was Royal Malaysian Customs Department state director Datin Dayang Fatimah Johari.