47 attempts to smuggle controlled items thwarted

FORTY-seven cases of misappropriations of controlled goods with seizures worth RM1.035 million were recorded in Sabah from June 2018 to March 2019.

State Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung said the controlled items on which attempts were made to smuggle them to neighbouring countries included diesel, petrol, cooking oil,sugar and flour.

‘’In the same period, 24 cases have been compounded involving compounds worth RM83,500. Meanwhile, 23 cases were still being investigated further to be charged in court,’’ he told the Sabah State Assembly here.

He said this when representing the Ministry of Health and People’s Wellbeing of Sabah in answering a question from Matbali Musah (Bersatu-Lumadan) who wanted to know the number of attempts to smuggle out controlled goods which were intercepted by the authorities from June 2018 to March 2019.

Frankie said offences such as dealing in controlled items without a licence could be acted upon under Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Control of Supplies Regulation 1974.

‘’A person can be fined up to RM1 million or jail three years or both for a first time offence and fined RM3 million or jail up to five years or both for a second offence,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Christina Liew said the ministry through the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) always worked with the District Tourism Action Council to ensure the initiative to develop rural tourism in Sabah could be successfully implemented.

‘’STB also provide support in the form of small allocations following needs from time to time to the rural tourism associations to build or upgrade basic tourism facility,’’ he said.

He said this when answering to a question from Jamawi Jaafar (WarisanKemabong) who wanted to know whether the government gave annual grants to tourism entrepreneurs based on community in the rural areas. Bernama