PUTRAJAYA, January 26 – First of all, I respectfully record my highest appreciation and thanks to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), under the leadership of YBhg. Dato ‘Sri Abdul Latif bin Abdul Kadir, Director General of Customs, for his willingness to invite me to officiate the 40th World Customs Day.
I am happy to be able to be with all Customs staff this evening, to celebrate a meaningful and historic day for JKDM, which indirectly also celebrates the aspirations of the Malaysian Family.
History has proven that the tax system is one of the most important economic mediums in generating income sustainability of a country.
It is not a new practice for our country. This taxation system has existed for a long time since the Malacca Malay Sultanate in the 15th century.
At that time, there was legislation related to the structure of taxation and was administered by the Treasurer assisted by Shahbandar who served to enforce the rules for customs and taxation, especially in the port area.
Throughout the ages, the function and role of Shahbandar has now been significantly played by JKDM which acts as a tax collection agency, thus becoming one of the largest revenue contributors for the country.
Alhamdulillah, I am pleased to announce here that the revenue collection of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for 2021 will reach RM42.50 billion, surpassing the initial target of RM40 billion set by the Ministry of Finance.
Apart from the success of revenue collection, the year 2021 has also highlighted the excellence of the JKDM Enforcement sector when it managed to defeat the international drug distribution cartel with the seizure of drugs weighing 16 tonnes worth RM5.2 billion.
My congratulations and thanks to all officers and members of JKDM for the outstanding success achieved, even though we are still facing global uncertainties, especially the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.
With such performance, I am very confident that JKDM will continue to move forward as Economic Frontliners who are able to drive quality and positive growth for Gross Domestic Product (GDP), towards nurturing the prosperity of Malaysian Families.
The 40th World Customs Day celebration for the year 2022 carries the theme “Expanding the Digital Transformation of Customs through the Empowerment of Culture and Data Ecosystem”.
This theme is very relevant to the current situation and coincides with the efforts to modernize JKDM’s services and operations towards creating a conducive business environment thus fostering confidence among traders and investors, both domestically and internationally.
The development of digital technology, particularly in the data and information sharing sector, is an important platform and has been widely applied in continuing the continuity of public services, especially in the face of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a dynamic and sustainable department, JKDM must ensure that all Customs staff are digitally literate and always ready to adapt to the current technological transformation in building and cultivating the data ecosystem.
This shift is in line with the aspirations of the National Digital Network (JENDELA) and the Malaysian Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital) initiative organized by the government towards driving Malaysia as a leader in an efficient and proactive digital economy sector, thus shaping a high -income nation.
The desire to drive digital transformation in the public service is also not a new thing, but has been clearly outlined in the Public Sector Digitization Strategic Plan 2021–2025 towards enhancing transparency and strengthening efficiency in service matters.
It has also been enshrined in the Seven Strategic Thrusts of the Vision for Shared Prosperity 2030 (WKB2030) and is also included in mapping the direction of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) which I launched last September.
Thus, the efforts of the World Customs Organization (WCO) through JKDM in bringing to life the theme of the 40th World Customs Day celebration should be commended and continue to be implemented because this initiative is in line with the government’s intention to increase the ranking of “Ease of Doing Business” for Malaysia. can catalyze foreign investment.
I believe that the injection of digital transformation through the empowerment of culture and data ecosystem in the services and operations of JKDM can strengthen the performance of this department and thus shape Malaysia as a competitive and competitive developed country.
The government is also constantly striving to help JKDM to continue to focus on combating smuggling and facilitating trade towards increasing revenue collection and further strengthening the country’s border control.
This commitment is evidenced through the addition of patrol boats and scanners as new assets of JKDM to strengthen border sovereignty and further be able to launch cross -border trade activities.
It is my hope that all JKDM staff can appreciate the meaning and theme of this 40th World Customs Day celebration. It needs to be translated in the implementation of daily tasks towards the excellence of JKDM services.
Therefore, in 2022, I hope this agency can increase its revenue collection target. This can be produced with the hard work of all JKDM staff with the cooperation of all parties, especially the public.
In the words of Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I am pleased to officiate the “40th World Customs Day in 2022”.
