30pc of Customs officers fail to declare assets

By Jason Gerald John, NST

MALACCA: Some 3,900 Customs officers could soon see themselves in cold storage if they fail to declare their assets by year-end.

Customs deputy director-general Datuk Khazali Ahmad said they formed 30 per cent of the 13,000 Customs officers required to declare their assets.

“These irresponsible officers face the risk of being barred from promotions.” They could also be banned from getting scholarships to further their studies, going on holidays abroad or getting overseas postings.

Khazali said declaring assets enhanced the department’s image.

According to him, a Customs officer must declare his or her assets upon being appointed or when there were changes in their assets.

“Even officers getting promoted must declare their assets,” he said after a gathering of state Customs officers at the Customs Complex in Ayer Keroh.

Present was state Customs director Datuk Mohd Nasir Said.

As for the Malacca Customs, Khazali said 80 per cent of its 236 officers had made the declaration.

Earlier, Khazali opened the Internal Tax Clinic, the first in the country, that would act as a one-stop-centre for clients requiring assistance on the payment of internal tax.

“The clinic will help companies in the state answer all their questions on taxes. In Malacca, there are 884 companies paying service tax while another 601 are contributing sales tax.

“Last year, the Malacca Customs collected RM1.63 billion in taxes, including RM28.7 million service tax and RM402.2 million sales tax.”