Is Customs DG bigger than DPM?

Labuan: The Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce said the Customs Department should have dropped the idea of pursuing its rejected proposals to import curbs on import and sales of beer, spirits and cigarettes."The department should, in fact, close its file on this subject following the announcement of Deputy Prime Minister that he was opposed to such a move," said its Chairman Datuk Wong Kii Yii (pic).

"The Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is also the chairman of the Special Labuan Task and for the Customs to still bulldoze its proposal was tantamount to ignoring the views of the DPM," he said.

"It appears that the Customs Director-General is bigger than the DPM."

The DPM at the opening of the Labuan Umno delegates conference had suggested that the department strengthen its enforcement and go after those who were involved in the illegal trade.

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Wong recalled that even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when opening the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) had stated that Labuan would get to keep its duty-free status.

Wong said if Customs still went ahead to impose the curbs, even though in a modified way, it would convey the perception that the department was disrespectful to the DPM and PM.

"It will lead to many not taking the promises of BN Ministers seriously and this would be damaging to the ruling coalition during the elections."

At the first meeting of the Special Task Force held in Putra Jaya recently, Customs had after furious complaints from Labuan residents, indicated that it would restudy its move and this could lead to a softer approach taken by the department on its proposals.

Wong remarked there is no time for this as proposals are to be implemented on November 1 and the next Task Force meeting was months away. "If the new amended proposals were implemented and still seen to be unsatisfactory it may be too late for the Task Force to intervene."

Wong said the Customs move also entailed the risk of undoing BN's good work in Labuan since the island was federalised in 1984.

He noted 75 per cent of the island's retail trade depend on the sale these items as they served a major attraction to visitors.

Wong also drew attention to a news report recently that Customs had seized 21 containers at Sepanggar port in KK with some RM6 million worth of falsely declared goods, including 249,372 litres of beer.

He said the latest seizure was clear evidence that much of the smuggled goods landing in the mainland do not originate from Labuan.

He said since Labuan is a free port it won't be surprising if on paper declarations are made for Labuan port "when in fact they were landing elsewhere."

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Applauding the Customs for their success in making the bust, Wong, said since Customs had attributed the bust to using the first line defence "then why not continue using this line since it appears to be effective."

He noted that Customs collected billions of ringgit in duties every year and using some percentage in beefing up its enforcement system would surely been seen as prudent spending.

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