Customs Dept collects RM15.14b in taxes nationwide

Customs director-general Datuk Seri Khazali Ahmad said this amounted to 33.31 percent of the overall target collection of RM45.441 billion set for the year.

"In Pahang, RM293.609 million were successfully collected until today, representing an achievement of 24.66 percent.

"Hopefully in the remaining months of the year, the Customs Department would be able to maintain its tax collection pace so that the target can be met," he told reporters after opening the Cameron Highlands Customs Office here Monday.

He said to date, 377,157 companies had registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with 13,159 companies alone having registered for GST in Pahang.

When asked by reporters on the 3,000 Customs officers who went undercover to nail down traders flouting the GST regulations, Khazali said several reports were received on the matter.

"We received reports from officers nationwide. The nature of the reports were that traders claimed ignorance that they did not know which items attracted the GST and which were exempted.

"But, we have issued guidelines on which items are taxable, not taxable and zero-rated. Nevertheless, we have to allow a certain degree of flexibility to everyone so that people will not be victimised," he said.