S’wak customs, MACC nab 18 cars with unpaid duties

S’wak customs, MACC nab 18 cars with unpaid duties

The smuggling of cars from Brunei into neighbouring Sarawak without paying duties is apparently a big problem. So big, in fact, that the customs department in the state, together with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), impounded 18 luxury vehicles in an operation from July 9 to 12, including a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and several Mercedes-Benz models.

According to The Star, customs deputy director-general Datuk Azimah Abd Hamid said that the cars, which were mostly seized in Kuching and Samarahan, were estimated to be worth around RM4.7 million – putting the figure of unpaid duties at a staggering RM8.15 million.

She added that the cars were all registered in Brunei, even though the owners were all Malaysians. An initial investigation also found that the cars had been in the country for longer than the allowable three months, using false vehicle permits.

This breaches Item 13 of the Customs Duties (Exemption) Order 2017, which stipulates that foreign nationals and Malaysians holding permanent resident status or valid working permits of a foreign country are allowed to bring in one foreign-registered vehicle, provided that it is exported within three months of the date of import.

“We have detained the owners and released them on bail of RM5,000 to RM10,000 each,” she said. “The vehicles have been in Malaysia for more than three months, including some which we believe have been here for more than a year. Some of the vehicles are tinted, which is not allowed in Brunei. This is an indicator that the vehicle has not been brought back to the original country.”

Azimah declined to reveal if the cars were owned by prominent figures, saying only that investigations were still ongoing. “We will investigate further whether this involves a syndicate for smuggling vehicles,” she said, adding that the cases were being investigated under Sections 133 (1) and 135 (1)(g) of the Customs Act.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Leafable on Jul 26, 2019 at 5:09 pm

    Tuu diaa.. orang kaya dan kereta besar. kah3

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0
    • Bernard Chandran on Jul 26, 2019 at 10:32 pm

      Too much of money is lost from unpaid duties. For years, Proton also gets a free ride with unpaid duties given to Spanco to help Proton cars.

      this is why Government does not have much money. Too much is lost from supporting Proton and cheats like these 18 cars

      https://paultan.org/2019/07/15/govt-lost-out-on-rm4-89-bil-in-excise-duty-on-locally-assembled-vehicles-from-2015-to-2017-ags-report/

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 7
      • Smuggling of luxury cars have nothing to do with Proton. Ur furious wankings are just shooting blanks in the air.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Sanjay Krishnan on Jul 27, 2019 at 11:03 am

      MACC is finally doing work the past 1 year. Before this, not much raids and confiscation at all. We all know this has been going on for many years.

      Previously hundreds of thousands of luxury cars also never paid duties. All go to Menteri and their cronies.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Shud do like Duterte, use tractor to crush the cars. Too many timber taikos taking the cheap way out.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 2
    • Veyron Owner on Jul 26, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      Those car owners are Malaysians holding PR status or working permits of a foreign country.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 4
      • Yes bro. Some even become ministars in new gohmen. Now their expensip cars kena impounded.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
      • Fintan Tan on Jul 27, 2019 at 7:25 pm

        Corruption has gone out of control in Malaysia the last 30 years. This is why got so many cars with no road tax or no excise paid.

        Half the time, the AP cowboys say it is in bonded warehouses but all tipu. Everybody is driving the cars all the time. Most sold.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Haha…….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Dollah Said on Jul 27, 2019 at 9:26 am

      Most Bentley owners in Malaysia also cheat on their road tax. Instead of paying RM18,000 per annum, they use RM4000 Road tax from Sabah and Sarawak in Semenanjung.

      Each car and each year, Government loses RM14,000. Calculate that with the hundreds of Bentleys doing this, Government loses Billions.

      These abang abangs all want a free ride in their lives. Given so much, still want to cheat the Government of revenue further.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Roslan Basheer on Jul 28, 2019 at 8:47 am

      too many GLC heads having cars with no tax paid. What a shame.

      Majority are in Putrajaya.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Angry Voters on Jul 29, 2019 at 7:17 pm

        Agreed. They used to shout about past ministers having cars without tax paid, now those ministers in Putrajaya are doing the same exact things! They shout Ubah, but they are the ones that has Ubah’ed!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • anonymous on Jul 26, 2019 at 5:29 pm

    basically pay and go case in the end

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Kenny on Jul 26, 2019 at 5:41 pm

    Cars worth RM4.7 total unpaid duties RM8.15
    Wow

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Kenny on Jul 26, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    458 Speciale, Aventador DMC……..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Just crush em like john said. These aren’t classics so no big losses to history.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • BOYRACER on Jul 26, 2019 at 7:21 pm

    I know 1 of the owners..used to work in his company before..at least 2 of his cars got impounded..maybe more..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • Firdaus on Jul 26, 2019 at 10:48 pm

      But the owners will always walk away scot free!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Kedahan on Jul 26, 2019 at 10:50 pm

      Car smuggling vy common in rich society there.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
      • Dollah Said on Jul 27, 2019 at 9:29 am

        The rich has got this entitlement mentality as they are given so much of bantuan and pampered all this while

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • MrRich on Jul 26, 2019 at 8:13 pm

    Poor people but trying to look rich by buying Brunei cars. LOL. And it’s only a Porsche Boxster and some worn out Mercedes hahaha Laughable.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • vVivi Zurianti on Jul 27, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    I pity the cars being impounded. I dont pity at all the owners though.

    These ppl are filthy rich, and still wants to cheat.
    These rich ppl are rich but damn cheapskate.

    Better drive 20 years old proton, and held up my head high.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Jul 27, 2019 at 8:25 pm

    plenty in KL….go check….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • john is otak batu on Jul 29, 2019 at 11:12 am

    What about airplanes & water crafts with unpaid duties? MACC just do your job without double standard!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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