Latest news with #EnforcementDepartment
The Star
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Profiteering complaint to clampdown in 24 hours
PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will take action against traders for increasing prices exorbitantly 24 hours upon receiving complaints from the public. Advising the public to report such traders, Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (pic) said the complaints must have full information on the items and the prices. 'I welcome complaints from the public because this requires public participation. 'A detailed complaint will make it easier for us to investigate,' he said in a press conference after an appreciation event for the ministry's strategic enforcement partners in Putrajaya yesterday. Armizan also advised businesses to consult the ministry's Enforcement Department before they raise prices. 'We have a calculator to guide businesses on whether or not their hike amounted to profiteering. 'We also advise businesses to discuss with the Customs Department and the Finance Ministry,' he added. Armizan also said two companies have agreed to postpone their planned price reviews on the ministry's advise. 'The two companies informed on July 1 that they had postponed their price adjustments to a later date,' he said. During the July 1 meeting, he said the two companies did not mention that the implementation of the expanded Sales and Service tax (SST) was among the reasons they had to review their prices. 'They said the increases were due to operational costs and logistics, as well as the implementation of the minimum wage order because they have a huge workforce. 'However, when they announce the price hike, my ministry has the prerogative under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) to ensure that price reviews are fair. 'If there are profiteering elements, we will issue a written notice for them to answer to,' he added. Armizan said from 2021 to May 31 this year, his ministry recorded over 2,800 cases handed over by enforcement agencies. Giving a breakdown of the cases, he said in 2021, a total of 250 cases were recorded followed by 2022 (615), 2023 (790), 2024 (822) and 335 cases from Jan 1 to May 31 this year. 'All these cases involve various issues, including the smuggling or embezzlement of subsidised products, with a combined value of RM199. 96mil,' said Armizan. Most cases, he added, were handed over to his ministry by the General Operations Force (PGA) with 1,146 cases, followed by the marine police (866), police (661) and the armed forces (69). 'The consistent increase shows that inter-agency cooperation has not just contributed to the success of the enforcement operation, but also increased the effectiveness of protecting consumer rights,' added Armizan. Last month, the Finance Ministry said the expanded SST would begin July 1 when a sales tax of 5% to 10% would be imposed on certain non-essential goods. Putrajaya had announced that imported apples, oranges, mandarin oranges and dates will be exempted from the SST. Also exempted are beauty services such as manicure, pedicure, facial and hairdressing. The Finance Ministry also said the registration threshold for businesses in leasing, rental and financial services have been raised from RM500,000 to RM1mil, which will limit the number of small businesses affected.
New Straits Times
02-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Illicit cigarettes, liquor worth RM2.67mil seized in Penang
BUTTERWORTH: Penang Customs successfully dismantled two smuggling attempts involving illicit cigarettes and liquor, with the total value including duties and taxes exceeding RM2.67 million, in separate operations conducted in May. State Customs director Rohaizad Ali said the first seizure involved 1.32 million sticks of white cigarettes and kretek found in a parked lorry at a residential area in Bukit Mertajam on May 6. He said officers from the Enforcement Department's Operations Unit inspected the vehicle and discovered the cigarettes, believed to be untaxed, stored in its cargo hold. He said the lorry was abandoned with its keys inside, a suspected modus operandi to avoid detection by authorities. "The total value of the seized goods is estimated at RM431,504, with duties and taxes amounting to around RM1.35 million. "The cigarettes are believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country," he told newsmen here today. Rohaizad said two men, a lorry driver and co-driver in their 20s and 30s, who were nearby at the time of the raid, were nabbed to assist in the investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value or RM500,000, or imprisonment of between six months and five years, or both, upon conviction. In the second case on May 9, Customs officers raided a house in a residential neighbourhood here, where they seized a large quantity of liquor and beer believed to be untaxed. "The seizure involved 15,288 cans of beer and 13,820 bottles of liquor, with an estimated value of RM236,737.20, and total duties and taxes estimated at RM663,027.03," he added. The items are believed to have been temporarily stored at the premises before being distributed to the local market. The case is also being investigated under the same provision of the Customs Act 1967. Rohaizad stressed that both cigarettes and liquor are classified as prohibited import items under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023, and firm action would continue to be taken against all parties involved.
The Star
25-06-2025
- The Star
Nasi kandar restaurant fined for illegal dumping in Klang
THE operator of a popular nasi kandar restaurant in Shah Alam was fined RM1,000 for indiscriminately dumping sacks of coconut shells and kitchen waste in Bukit Raja, Klang on June 20. Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) deputy mayor Mohd Zary Affendi Mohd Arif ( pic ) said a patrol team from the council's Enforcement Department caught two men in a 4WD vehicle dumping several sacks from its open cargo bed onto the roadside along Lengkuk Keluli 2, Bukit Raja industrial area in Klang. Mohd Zary said initial investigations showed that the vehicle had travelled about 5.5Km from the restaurant to reach the dumping spot at 5am last Friday (June 20). He said that according to the patrol team, the 4WD vehicle sped off as soon as the rubbish was dumped. "But the dumping was recorded by a CCTV camera along the street. On checking the vehicle's registration plate, our men were able to trace the wrongdoers, who admitted to the offence. "A compound of RM1,000 was issued under the council's Garbage Collection, Removal, and Disposal By-law 2007 that mitigates illegal waste disposal issues. I was told the restaurant operator had immediately paid the fine," added Mohd Zary. Meanwhile, MBDK Environmental Services Department director Zaireezal Ahmad Zainuddin said improper disposal of coconut shells or waste by roadsides is a nuisance. "People in the Bukit Raja industrial area and other areas have raised concerns about the environmental impact, unpleasant mess and potential hazards associated with this indiscriminate dumping," he said. Zaireezal added MBDK has resorted to imposing the maximum fines on those carrying out such illegal acts "We have warned vendors selling coconut water to handle coconut shell waste properly. They have been told to pack it into bags and leave it for the rubbish truck to pick it up," he said.
The Star
12-06-2025
- The Star
Mayor: DBKL plans enforcement enhancements for 2026
Photo: AZMAN GHANI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Enforcement Department is set to implement several proposals to enhance enforcement actions in the coming year, says mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif ( pic ). She expressed hope that incidents like the "abang belon" episode would not deter officers from performing their duties effectively. In March, a video circulated showing DBKL officers confiscating balloons from a vendor on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman went viral. The incident attracted criticism from politicians who accused DBKL of being excessive in their actions. DBKL defended its officers, stating that the vendor had ignored previous warnings and continued trading. The vendor reportedly became aggressive, pushing officers after a third warning, leading to a police report being filed over injuries sustained during the altercation. 'I commend your firm and tactful enforcement against illegal hawkers, despite provocation and threats such as those seen in the 'abang belon' incident,' Maimunah said at the Parade for the Completion of the Basic Enforcement Officer Training Course 2025 this morning (June 12). This training course is compulsory for new officers under DBKL's enforcement service scheme. According to a statement, DBKL's Enforcement Department has issued over 621,000 notices for traffic offences, collecting RM2.79mil in fines as of April this year. Additionally, 19,000 notices for general offences have resulted in over RM1.56mil in fines collected.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No HC relief for duo under ED lens for selling 22 acres govt land to IAS, IPS officers
Hyderabad: Making it clear that the court is not in favour of granting any ex parte relief to people facing charges of misappropriating nearly 100 acres of govt/Bhoodan land in Rangareddy district, the on Wednesday refused interim protection to one Munavar Khan and his mother who are under Enforcement Department (ED) scanner. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The mother-son duo had approached the court seeking a stay on the ED case and also on possible arrests. Khan is facing allegations of selling 50 acres govt land and 50 acres Bhoodan land in Nagaram village of Maheshwaram mandal in Rangareddy. Of this, it was alleged that about 22 acres were bought by bureaucrats alone. The case had come before the court following a petition accusing Khan of selling it as private patta land. Last month, the ED had raided the house of Khan and seized Rs 13 lakh, foreign currency and 45 vintage cars. Later, it filed the case and issued summons to Khan. Apprehending arrest, Khan and his mother approached the HC to quash the ED Case. His counsel requested the court to direct the ED to not take coercive steps as Khan was cooperating with the investigation. However, Justice Narsing Rao Nandikonda, presiding over a vacation court, said he will not pass any order without hearing the ED. After directing the ED to file counters, the judge adjourned the case to June 10.
