RM3.1 bln in revenue collected in Sarawak last year – Customs

KUCHING: The Royal Malaysia Customs Department collected RM3.1 billion in revenue in Sarawak last year.

The overall collection was an increase of RM1.1 billion or 51.81 per cent over the same period in 2015. In fact, the projected revenue achieved also increased by RM1.1 billion or 54.82 per cent.

However, export duties decreased by RM70.4 million or 26.83 per cent at RM192.1million compared to RM262.6 million the previous year, said state customs director Ahmad Jii in a press statement.

“This was following raw oil export duties which decreased by RM162.2 million or 63.53 per cent compared to the same period in 2015,” he said.

The press statement was released at the 35th World Customs Day Celebration at Wisma Kastam here yesterday.

On Goods and Services Tax ( GST) on imported goods, he said the collection increased to RM191.9 million or 42.31 per cent at RM645.5 million compared to the previous year’s RM453.6 million.

The collection of GST on local goods increased by 78.55 per cent or RM920.2 million to RM2.1 billion compared to RM1.1 billion collected during the same period in 2015 while import duties increased by RM142.1 million or 0.18 per cent, he further disclosed.

He added that excise duty increased by RM1.1 million ( 11.82 per cent) but import duty went down by RM10.2 million ( 12.39 per cent) while RM7.7 million was collected in Services Tax.

Meanwhile, the GST Division of the department recorded 28,769 GST registrants with tax collected at RM3.2 billion from April 1, 2015 to Jan 25, 2016, the statement added.

“Starting Jan 1 last year, the division has conducted 18 operations and visited 2,481 premises with 1,074 potential registrants.

“For 2016, 1,728 compounds were given out, valued at RM2.9 million for offences like late GST registration, not displaying prices inclusive of tax, not producing GST statement during the stated period and not paying GST to the Royal Customs Malaysia Department.”

In addition, 11 companies were compounded up to RM75,000 for various offences under GST Act 2014, he said.

Throughout 2016, a total of 70 cases were brought to court under the GST Act 2014, and from that figure, 57 cases were due to failure to produce GST statement involving fines amounting to RM221,000.

“Another 10 cases are for failure to produce tax invoice involving fines of RM44,000 and three for not displaying prices inclusive of tax involving fines of RM22,000.

“All the offences were in Kuching, Sibu and Bintulu.”

At the event, Royal Malaysia Customs Department state deputy director ( Enforcement) Assan Mohamad read a speech of the Royal Malaysia Customs Department director- general, which was followed by taking of oaths by Customs personnel and other staff.

The celebration was held concurrently throughout the country.