Illicit alcohol producers, dealers face drastic action
KOTA KINABALU: Immediate and drastic action will be taken against manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers dealing with illicit and unregulated alcoholic products in Sabah.
Health and People's Well Being Minister Stephen Wong told a press conference yesterday that the government was losing close to RM1.2 billion annually in tax revenue due to illicit beer in East Malaysia alone, which made up to almost 800,000 hectoliters.
“Smugglers of alcoholic products have taken advantage of the surge in demand for alcoholic products to flood the market with illicit products,” he said.
He added that consumers would not be able to verify the names of the manufacturers stated on the products and there were no names of importers or distributors as required by our regulations.
Most of these products can be gotten cheaply, that is between RM2 and RM3 per can, which signifies unpaid duties and taxes.
He warned that traders dealing in these illicit alcoholic beverages essentially violate provisions under the Excise Act 1967, Customs Act 1967, the Food Act 1983, the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 and labeling regulations.
“The state government will embark on an aggressive enforcement campaign in Sabah with the relevant agencies acting immediately against the importation, distribution and sales of these illicit products. We have the Ministry of Health, the Royal Malaysian Customs, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, the local authorities and the police to start immediate enforcement to ensure stern actions are taken against these operators,” he said.