Labuan Task Force 'merely an eyewash'
Published on: Thursday, December 08, 2016
Labuan: Activist Lau Seng Kiat said the Labuan Special Task Force that was established to solve Labuan's woes was merely "an eyewash" to fool folks here to believe that their problems will be over soon. This is shown by the fact that even before the force had completed its findings and made its recommendations, the Customs Department decided to proceed with the restrictions on sales of cigarettes, liquor and beer.The action by the Department showed that it did not recognise the high-powered Task Force even though the committee had been established by the cabinet last August to review Labuan's problems and find solutions as the Customs curbs would dim the island's duty-free attraction and aggravate local economic woes.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said he had learned that the Task Force merely had one meeting and not made any conclusion but Customs Department went ahead with the implementation.Lau said simple maths would show that for the 20 shops that would get the KBC classification, the department would have to deploy 20 personnel. Given the monthly wage of RM1,200 per officer, the total wages would amount to RM24,000 per month and yearly above RM240,000 all for just sitting at the desk and recording the sales at the shop, "is this not a pennywise pound foolish way of curbing smuggling.Are there no other better an effective ways?" asked Lau.He said the Task Force came about after complaints from almost all the sectors that the island was turning into a ghost town following the downfall of crude oil prices, "when the Force was established it created expectations but now it is all seen as ending into anti-climax".
ADVERTISEMENT
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
