‘Contraband buyers not target’

BUTTERWORTH: Enforcement against contraband cigarettes will not focus on buyers, just those selling them.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said action would be taken against those selling the contraband and not those buying it as some customers might not even know that the cigarettes were illegal.

“Some might know they are because it is much cheaper, but there are those who are unaware,” he said.

Lim said Parliament recently passed a law for stiffer punishment for cigarette smuggling.

“If convicted, offenders are liable to a jail term of between six months and five years and a fine of between RM100,000 and RM500,000.

“Once it is gazetted next year, the new law will take its course,” he said at a press conference after launching the newly refurbished multipurpose hall at the Royal Malaysian Customs housing here yesterday.

He said the Customs Department would step up enforcement against cigarette smuggling to stop the estimated loss of RM5bil in taxes.

To ensure effective enforcement, the minister said the department would have a new internal task force with an integrity officer.

The new law follows pressure from NGOs which wanted the issue to be addressed.

“We will inform you when it will be implemented. Right now I want the public to be aware of the stiffer punishment,” he said.