SUNGAI PETANI: The government has suffered losses of between RM3 billion and RM5 billion a year due to revenue leakages at the country’s entry points, says Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar.
He said the revenue leakages were due to smuggling, either due to negligence or lack of equipment to monitor and control the border.
“The revenue leakages have been going on for a long time.
“We do have data on revenue leakages, especially in terms of our negligence or inadequate equipment... for example, cigarette and liquor smuggling is still happening,” he told a press conference after attending a meeting with the heads of state and federal departments of Kedah and Perlis.
Ismail said new technology should be used to monitor border crossings to prevent the country from losing more revenue.
He said civil servants manning border entry points should also be monitored to ensure that they were capable of carrying out their duties.
Ismail also encouraged civil servants to increase cooperation with politicians, especially those who were part of the government.
He said civil servants should look at politicians as a group that should be approached and not shunned.
“We have to improve cooperation, but it does not mean we should be involved in politics.
“We must look at civil servants as neutral who have to perform certain tasks and we are the backbone of the government,” he said. – Bernama