Latest news with #JKDM
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Kelantan customs seize RM10 million cannabis flowers in Rantau Panjang
KOTA BHARU: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) intercepted a major drug smuggling operation, confiscating 102.178 kilogrammes of cannabis flowers valued at over RM10 million. The bust occurred at the Rantau Panjang Free Duty Zone on April 23. Kelantan Customs director Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long confirmed the seizure in a statement today. The first discovery involved 88 transparent plastic packets of suspected cannabis flowers found in three bags at Gate 1 of the duty-free zone around 10.30 am. A second seizure followed when a female motorcyclist was stopped carrying a bag with 32 similar packets. Further investigation led authorities to the Rantau Panjang Express Bus Stop, where a man and woman were arrested with two additional bags containing 60 packets of the substance. In total, six bags holding 180 packets of cannabis flowers, weighing over 100 kilogrammes and worth RM10,013,444, were seized. 'The syndicate's modus operandi was to smuggle cannabis flowers through illegal bases along Sungai Golok before transporting them into the Rantau Panjang Free Duty Zone,' Wan Jamal said. All suspects, aged between 30 and 45, are locals. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. - Bernama
Daily Express
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Grassroots governance in Sabah – an illusion?
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: Anita Limjoon, Paul Canigea P, Fiona V Loijon Text Size: The State Government provided RM277 million to JKKKs in the year 2024, but this money decreased to RM247 million in 2025, and JKDM frameworks are generally lacking clearly defined budgetary allowances or operational policies. SABAH rural society is under-developed to such degree that it does not serve real needs and wishes of the people. Though administration units at the village level like the Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) have been initiated to act as a medium between the citizenry and the State agencies, the voices of the local citizens are often pushed to the margins throughout the formulation processes both at the state and national levels. Advertisement Originally, these committees were intended to translate local concerns into the policy process, but they often work under very harsh conditions, including limited funding, training, independence, and ultimately reducing their capabilities and compromising community trust in their efficiency. Overlapping of mandate between the traditional JKKK and the new federal-level institutions, especially the Jawatankuasa Desa Madani (JKDM), also complicates the issues facing village development. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
15-07-2025
- Malay Mail
RM950m tax loss: MACC busts massive scrap metal smuggling ring across five states
GEORGE TOWN, July 15 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has launched a major crackdown on scrap metal smuggling syndicates operating in five states, which are believed to have paid bribes to enforcement officers, resulting in an estimated tax revenue loss of over RM950 million to the government. The raids were carried out by the MACC's Special Operations Division through the Multi Agency Task Force (MATF), in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), at 19 locations across Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, and Kedah. The special operation, dubbed 'Op Metal,' also involved personnel from MACC's Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS), who raided six sites in Penang yesterday, including residences, offices, and scrap metal storage and processing centres believed to be involved in the smuggling operation. The first raid, which was also joined by Bernama, was conducted at a three-storey luxury bungalow in Batu Maung around 6 am Monday (July 14), believed to belong to a businessman who owns a scrap metal company. A domestic helper opened the door after ACTS officers knocked, and a search was conducted with officials, though the company owner was reportedly not home at the time. Only the man's wife, child, and an elderly woman believed to be his mother were in the residence, while the foreign national was said to be abroad on business for the past two days. The operations team searched for evidence and documents related to the smuggling activities, while the ACTS team maintained surveillance inside and outside the home to ensure a smooth operation. Later, members of the media were brought along for a raid on a scrap metal storage and processing site at Jalan Bukit Minyak in Bukit Mertajam around 9 am, just as the premises opened for business. The ACTS team conducted a thorough inspection of the zinc-fenced facility, which contained scrap metals of various forms, sizes, and types believed to be processed before being exported overseas. The team gathered nearly 30 employees, including office staff, before conducting further checks. The premises is believed to be linked to the man whose house was raided earlier that morning. About 15 minutes later, a man claiming to be the site's manager arrived and assured full cooperation, while the operations team carried out further checks and reportedly seized several documents for investigation into the smuggling activities. Meanwhile, a source said that seven raids in Selangor, four in Kedah, and one each in Negeri Sembilan and Johor targeted other scrap metal centres, offices, and homes of individuals suspected to be involved in the smuggling. Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicates exported the scrap metal to India, China, and other countries, but declared it as machinery or other metals not subject to the 15 per cent export tax imposed by the government. 'To ensure the shipments passed inspections and avoided the tax, the syndicates are believed to have bribed several enforcement officers,' the source said. The source added that the complicity of certain enforcement officers caused the government to lose around RM160 million in tax revenue per year over the past six years, with total losses estimated at over RM950 million. The number of arrests and seizures from the operation will be updated as investigations are still ongoing. Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the raids in the five states, which involved factories and companies exporting scrap metal abroad. He said the case was being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001) and that investigations were also focused on identifying individuals, including public servants, who may have protected the syndicate's activities. — Bernama
Malay Mail
01-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Perak Customs seize smuggled drugs, some hidden in air mattresses, worth nearly RM1m in Selangor
IPOH, July 1 — The Perak Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) seized drugs worth nearly RM1 million in a raid in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Its director Mohd Nadzri Arifin said in the 2.45pm raid on June 5, the Customs Department uncovered a large drug smuggling attempt involving nearly 10 kilograms of cannabis flowers concealed in courier parcels. 'The raid involved collaboration with officers from the Customs Headquarters Narcotics Branch and the Ipoh Enforcement Division. 'During the inspection of a suspicious parcel, officers discovered eight plastic packages containing dried plant materials believed to be cannabis flowers weighing approximately 9,858 grams,' he said in a press conference at the Perak Customs Department headquarters here. He said authorities estimated the street value of the drugs to be RM966,084. Mohd Nadzri said preliminary investigations revealed that the drugs were intended to be smuggled abroad, specifically to the United Kingdom, via courier services. 'The dried cannabis was hidden inside air mattress and inflatable pool boxes to avoid detection,' he said. He added the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction. He said no arrests were made in the raid and noted that the sender made a false declaration and failed to obtain the required permits. He added that investigations are ongoing to identify the individuals or syndicate behind the attempted smuggling.
Malay Mail
26-06-2025
- Malay Mail
KLIA Customs thwart RM5.56m cannabis smuggling, seize 56.81kg of drugs
SEPANG, June 26 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (JKDM LTAKL) foiled an attempt to smuggle over 56.81 kilogrammes of cannabis flowers, estimated to be worth RM5.56 million. This followed the seizure of the cannabis flowers in operations conducted at several air cargo terminal operators in the KLIA Free Trade Zone last April and May. JKDM LTAKL Director Zulkifli Muhammad said a total of 19 parcels, which were later found to contain substances suspected of being cannabis flowers, were seized during the operations. 'The drugs were believed to be smuggled into the country and then out to various countries using air courier services,' he said in a statement today. He said the case was being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides the death penalty or life imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death, upon conviction. In another development, Zulkifli said his team also foiled an attempt to smuggle 1.54 million white cigarettes of various brands, estimated to be worth RM154,000, with unpaid duties and taxes amounting to RM1.03 million, in a raid in Klang, Selangor, last May 9. He said the contraband was seized from two lorries following information and intelligence gathering by his team. 'The syndicate's modus operandi is to use bonded lorries to distribute the smuggled cigarettes, and the cigarette deliveries are carried out at night to avoid detection by the authorities,' he said. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967, which iprovides a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both, upon conviction. — Bernama
