Datuk Seri Najib Razak is prepared to meet Customs representatives to thrash out issues after its union said morale was damaged by the death of senior officer Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed and allegations of billion-ringgit corruption.
The prime minister also said today that Customs should not be concerned about the allegations if they adhered to regulations.
“It would not be a problem. I can meet them, at the appropriate time.
“Problems crop up if we do not want to declare or under-declare. If we adhere to regulations, there should not be any problem,” he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama on its website.
Ahmad Sarbani was found dead on the ground outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) office in Jalan Cochrane at about 10.20am on Wednesday.
The Peninsular Malaysia Customs Union demanded yesterday to meet the PM and hear an explanation for Ahmad Sarbani’s death.
It also asked for the Royal Customs and Excise Department’s name to be cleared from allegations of corruption and money-laundering amounting to RM108 billion.
“There will be no problems if we adhere to regulations. In the case of import of products, for example, there will be no problem if we declare the products at the right price,” Najib added.
The Selangor Customs assistant director’s death comes as a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) is investigating MACC operational procedures and the death of Teoh on July 16, 2009 after a coroner’s inquest returned an open verdict of neither suicide nor homicide.
The aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah was a witness whose body was found sprawled on the fifth-floor corridor of the anti-graft body’s Selangor headquarters following overnight questioning there.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah also confirmed that Sarbani suffered injuries that were consistent with a fall from height but refused to say if the 56-year-old father had suffered any other injuries.
Union president Ibrahim Ahmad also said that the MACC should explain Ahmad Sarbani’s death and clear the senior officer from suicide.
The prime minister also promised on Thursday a transparent and professional investigation into Sarbani’s death but said the circumstances were different from a similar death plunge involving Teoh Beng Hock as the Customs officer was not being questioned on Wednesday unlike the DAP political aide.
Incidentally, theCustoms is under the purview of the Finance Ministry which is headed by Najib.
Ibrahim also said that it was unfair for MACC to target Customs officials in its bid to recoup a whopping RM108 billion in reported revenue loss to the country annually.
“We have consistently submitted our revenue report and every year we earn about RM28 billion so it is illogical for us to be responsible for the RM108 billion,” he said, referring to last week’s raid that led to the arrest of 62 officers, including Sarbani.
The MACC raided over 100 premises including 25 Customs offices in a nationwide dragnet late last month for alleged tax evasion, money laundering and illegal funds outflows worth billions of ringgit.
comments
108 billion is the price building
10 KL International Airport
OR
16 KL CC Twin Tower
OR
27 Jambatan Pulau Pinang
Or quite a few of undiveable submarines
Or a few thousand of new BN millionaires
In Malaysia the PM has to step into all matters. Did you notice?
It could mean:
1. The ministries are not doing their job or
2. The ministries are not capable/efficient or
3. The PM wants to put his hand into all matters
4. The Rakyat have no confidence in the ministries and want decisions direct from the PM.
don't forget the sub and altantuya ya. All also because of corruption. Latest French Goverment says malaysian goverment paid the commission. The then ass minister of defence lied in parliment too need to be investigate.
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