PUTRAJAYA – Three more officers from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department were detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to facilitate the “flying container” or container tax evasion investigations case at Port Klang.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that more than RM3 million cash was seized after the arrests. He added that he has also instructed MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya to disclose the discovery of this large sum of money.
“Several more individuals will be investigated and if necessary, will be detained,” he told reporters at the launching of a book entitled The Sin of Corruption: A Religious Perspective today.
Azam said the MACC had also initiated an application through the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to seek cooperation with Singaporean authorities to track down a Singaporean national suspected to be the mastermind behind the case.
Seven individuals, including Customs officers involved in the flying container case, active at Port Klang, were detained during Op Transit on June 6.
All those detained are suspected of conspiring with an import smuggling syndicate at Port Klang, leading to an estimated tax loss of about RM3.5 billion to the country.
19 containers containing various imported goods were seized in the operation conducted by the MACC and Customs Department.
Five containers were opened, with various taxable items, including LED lights, solar lights and canned processed pork, found.
Earlier in his speech, Azam said the book, published by Transparency International Malaysia, emerged from a collaboration effort by esteemed religious leaders from various faith communities, each contributing their profound insights into a topic that was critically important for the nation.
Azam said religion and spirituality are deeply integrated into Malaysian society, which influence the people’s values, behaviour, and ethical standards.
“This book encompasses teachings of six major world religions, which is Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism.
“It provides a profound exploration of how each faith perceives and addresses the scourge of corruption, emphasising the universal values of integrity, justice, and fairness,” he said. – June 13, 2024