Customs officer arson attack nothing to do with GST - Johari

The senior officer of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department who was the victim of arson attack at his house in Precinct 11 here used to bust syndicates while serving at the enforcement division, said Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani.

He said the officer had smashed syndicates involved in the smuggling of high dutiable goods such as cigarettes and alcohol before being attached to the current goods and services tax (GST) division.

“It has nothing to do with GST. It has something to do with the job before that.

“Prior to his transfer, he managed to bust several syndicates that smuggled in goods with unpaid duty worth millions of ringgit,” he told a press conference after the 36th World Customs Day celebration in Putrajaya today which was officiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Johari said customs officers have been exposed to criminal threats as there had been a number of transactions involving high dutiable goods.

“That is why we are constantly observing the activities in the black market so that it would not affect the role of the department in protecting the tax system in the country,” he said.

Johari also said that the safety of the department's officers would always be given top priority.

“Those who have received threats are urged to lodge police reports to avoid any untoward incidents from recurring,” he said.

In the 3.30am incident yesterday, four vehicles belonging to Customs GST Division senior assistant director Nur Azman Mat Jini and his family members which were parked in front of his government quarters residence were set on fire.

The incident also affected the front portion of the house.

- Bernama