KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) has called for the assignment duration and placement for critical positions in the Customs Department to be shortened following several crises involving the integrity of its personnel.
Its president Jais Abdul Karim said this was necessary to to reduce potential issues that may affect the integrity of the department's officers.
He said integrity issues among Customs Department staff have been highlighted by recent disclosures involving the 'flying container' syndicate and various ongoing investigations by authorities.
This, he said, is because consistent and fair actions against wrongdoers can enhance the department's reputation by demonstrating a commitment to upholding integrity and restoring public trust.
"We believe there is a close relationship between corruption and enforcement powers due to the significant authority and responsibilities they hold.
"Corruption cases involving enforcement authorities indicate weaknesses in the national surveillance system and necessitate immediate integrity reforms.
"The Customs Department should also tighten internal supervision and audit procedures, increase technology use for daily activity monitoring and provide continuous training on ethics and integrity," he said, adding that the department should impose strict penalties on any personnel found guilty.
He was responding to the Customs Department's assertion that it will not compromise and will not protect any party in cases where substantiated allegations of misconduct involving its officers and members arise.
Last week, the 'flying container' case came to light following the arrest of seven individuals, including Customs Department officers for suspected collusion with a smuggling syndicate in Port Klang that resulted in tax leakages valued at around RM3.5 billion.
The operation, conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Customs Department, seized 19 containers containing various imported goods.
Following this, MACC reached out to Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in an effort to track a Singaporean national suspected to be the mastermind in the container tax evasion case (flying container).
On June 14, MACC chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, said it had identified more than 100 companies involved in the "flying container" syndicate, which has been active and operating for more than a decade in Port Klang.
Azam said these companies acted as "forwarding agents," serving as intermediaries for the payment of bribes to rogue customs officers.
The implicated companies are suspected of making false tax declarations following corruption arrests at Port Klang and another tax revenue loss case amounting to RM2 billion at Kuala Lumpur International Airport previously.
Meanwhile, Jais said the Immigration Department's commitment to dismiss, demote or withhold salaries of staff involved in integrity misconduct is a clear message from the agency to address the issue.
"Such actions or prosecutions in court each have their advantages. Internal actions like dismissal or demotion can be expedited and have immediate effects.
"However, prosecution is crucial for long-term impact and ensuring wrongdoers receive appropriate penalties.
"A combination of both punitive approaches is best for addressing integrity issues comprehensively," he said.