Latest news with #CustomsDepartment
The Star
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
‘Govt ready to clamp down on arbitrary hikes'
PETALING JAYA: Efforts to monitor the prices of basic necessities, including food at eateries, will be intensified to curb profiteering and protect consumers due to the imposition of the Sales and Service Tax (SST), says Datuk Fuziah Salleh ( pic ). The Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said the authorities are ready to take action against food operators if they increase prices unnecessarily due to the SST adjustments. 'We have already launched Ops Kesan 4.0. ALSO READ: Johor restaurants to weigh impact of SST expansion first 'This is to protect consumers by detecting price movements and any attempts to exploit the SST adjustments. 'We will continue to monitor them,' Fuziah said when contacted recently. She said her ministry is prepared to receive complaints from the public. 'We hope all parties can play their roles and we will look into all the complaints,' Fuziah added. ALSO READ: Sales tax not the sole cause behind bitter hit The ministry has begun nationwide enforcement operations under Ops Kesan 4.0, aimed at curbing unjustified price increases and profiteering linked to the recent revision of the SST which came into effect on July 1. Its minister Datuk Armizan Ali on July 8 said the enforcement will be guided by four key elements: the first is scrutiny of goods and services listed under the revised SST scope. ALSO READ: Bang for your buck no more? The second involves registered businesses exceeding the SST threshold, which are required to register with the Customs Department. Other factors include examining pricing margins to determine whether they reflect profiteering in violation of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. 'Businesses are advised to consider all four aspects before making any price or service fee adjustments,' Armizan said. He also urged businesses to consult the Customs Department and the Finance Ministry for policy and compliance clarification, while seeking guidance from the ministry's Enforcement Division for matters involving profiteering indicators.
The Star
16-05-2025
- The Star
US e-waste intercepted at Bangkok port
Thai officials said they have seized 238 tonnes of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they've found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. It was found in a random inspection on Tuesday. A UN report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tonnes of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. It added that only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022, and the quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles and inadequate management infrastructure. Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including for falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to return the waste to its country of origin. 'It's important that we take action on this kind of goods,' he said. 'There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling.' Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of e-waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste. Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said officials suspected two factories in Samut Sakhon province are involved in importing the waste. — AP
