Call for govt intervention over rice seizure
Sabah Cross Border Trade Association is appealing to the government to look at the seizure of 351 containers of Vietnamese rice by the Royal Malaysian Customs as an international issue that needs to be solved speedily.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Cross Border Trade Association is appealing to the government, especially to the Prime Minister, to look at the seizure of 351 containers of Vietnamese rice by the Royal Malaysian Customs at the Sepanggar Bay Port as an international issue that needs to be solved as soon as possible.
Its president, Nordin Ening in a press conference yesterday also appealed to the Attorney General to drop the charge against the consignee and notify party, which will be brought to the Magistrate's Court today (March 12).
“A total of 351 containers of rice from Vietnam were supposed to arrive Labuan Port on September 10 last year, but were diverted to Sepanggar Port due to congestion. “Unfortunately, approximately 9,000 metric tonnes of rice were seized by Customs at Sepanggar Port, even though they were meant for the Southern Philippines, and did not breach any Malaysian law.
“We are shocked when the consignee and notify party will be brought to court for smuggling, although it is clearly stated that the final destination for the rice is Labuan, and based on its initial schedule, the consignment is meant for buyers in the Philippines. Their accusations are baseless.
“Our association received a protest from the Vietnam Food Association regarding this matter, and I believe if the government refuses to solve this problem, it will jeopardize our bilateral trade, as Vietnam is planning to blacklist Sabah as their trade partner,” he said.
Nordin, who was accompanied by some of the consignees and notify parties during the press conference yesterday, said Sabah's bilateral trade, worth approximately RM2 billion, would be jeopardized if the government proceeded with the charge.
During the press conference, Nordin also said they were verbally informed by the Customs that about 26 out of the 351 containers had been emptied, and it was believed that the rice sacks were auctioned to a government-linked company.
“We are planning to lodge a police report on this matter because most of the businessmen affected by this case are not happy with how the authorities are handling it,” he concluded.