AUTHOR: No author available SECTION: NATION PAGE: 8 PRINTED SIZE: 228.00cm² REGION: KL MARKET: PHOTO: Black/white ASR: MYR 5,472.00 ITEM ID: MY0042204826

17 DEC, 2020 Customs Dept offices to be used as detention centres

The Star, Malaysia Page 1 of 2

Customs Dept offices to be used as detention centres

CUSTOMS Department offices can Hon Wai (PH-Bukit Bendera) raised Abd Rahim also said the Customs themselves?" he asked. be used as detention centres in the concerns over the use of Customs was also stepping up enforcement Abd Rahim said the Customs near future, the House was told. facilities as detention centres. to thwart cigarette smuggling. Department did not fully rely on Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk "We are faced with the Covid-19 "That is why we proposed in informants, which is why amend- Abd Rahim Bakri said this was pandemic. What will be the SOP Budget 2021 for cigarettes to be ments were being done to ensure made possible after the Dewan used to prevent the spread of the made a taxable item in all duty-free the credibility of agent provoca- Rakyat passed the Excise virus if Customs offices are used as islands beginning January 2021," he teurs. (Amendment) Act 2020 which detention centres?" he asked. added. The Bill proposes to introduce a allowed Customs offices to hold sus- Datuk (BN-Jelebu) The deputy minister also warned new section to provide for the cred- pects due to overcrowding in police wanted to know if Customs officers that Customs officers and others ibility of an agent provocateur's lock-ups. empowered to detain suspects tasked to be agent provocateurs and evidence and the admissibility as "Suspects will be detained at would be trained for the purpose who commit wrongdoings could be evidence of any statement given by gazetted offices during investiga- and also provided with firearms. charged in court. a person who is subsequently tion before the cases are referred to "Although most cases involve "But it must be based on informa- charged with an offence under the the Attorney General's Chambers," white-collar crime, we cannot tion in the investigations," he said Act, to an agent provocateur, he said in winding up the debate on underestimate the threat and risk on points raised during the debate regardless of whether the agent is a the Bill. posed if Customs offices are used as on the Customs (Amendment) Bill Customs or police officer. Abd Rahim assured that the detention centres," he said. 2020. The Bill also seeks to empower Customs Department would adopt A new Section 50b was created Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) the seizing Customs officer to seal similar Covid-19 SOP for detainees. under the Excise Act which gives had expressed concerns on the safe- goods and such receptacles, packag- "Individuals detained by the Customs officers the same powers ty of informants or officers asked to es or conveyances, or the premises Customs Department will undergo as a police corporal and a prison act as agent provocateurs. in which the goods and such items Covid-19 test according to the SOP officer of the rank of sergeant when "Can the government guarantee are found. set by the Health Ministry," he added. escorting and guarding any person that there will not be any abuse of The Bill was tabled for first read- Earlier during the debate, Wong in custody. power so the rakyat can protect ing last week and passed yesterday.

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published in any form without the prior consent of the copyright owner. AUTHOR: No author available SECTION: NATION PAGE: 8 PRINTED SIZE: 228.00cm² REGION: KL MARKET: Malaysia PHOTO: Black/white ASR: MYR 5,472.00 ITEM ID: MY0042204826

17 DEC, 2020 Customs Dept offices to be used as detention centres

The Star, Malaysia Page 2 of 2 SUMMARIES CUSTOMS Department offices can be used as detention centres in the near future, the House was told. Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri said this was made possible after the passed the Excise (Amendment) Act 2020 which allowed Customs offices to hold suspects due to overcrowding in police lock-ups.

Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published in any form without the prior consent of the copyright owner.