PETALING JAYA, Jan 26 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s (JKDM) revenue collection for 2021 has reached RM42.50 billion, surpassing the initial target of RM40 billion set by the Ministry of Finance, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
In his speech at the launch of the 40th International Customs Day today, the prime minister said the year 2021 had also seen an outstanding performance of JKDM’s enforcement team when they busted an international drug ring and seized 16 tonnes of drugs worth RM5.2 billion.
“I would like to congratulate and express my gratitude to all Customs officers and personnel for their outstanding performance despite the many challenges following the global uncertainties, especially the threats of COVID-19 and natural disasters.
“With such an outstanding performance, I am confident that the department will continue to move forward as economic frontliners capable of driving high quality and positive growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) towards nurturing prosperity of Keluarge Malaysia (Malaysian Family),” he said.
Also present were Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and his two deputies Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah and Yamani Hafez Musa, as well as JKDM director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said the International Customs Day’s theme of Memperluas Transformasi Digital Kastam Melalui Pemerkasaan Budaya dan Ekosistem Data (Expanding Digital Transformation Through Empowerment of Data Culture and Ecosystem) was very relevant to the current situation and in line with efforts to modernise JKDM services and operations.
This includes efforts towards creating a conducive business environment and fostering confidence among traders and investors, either domestic or international, he said.
Ismail said digital technology, especially in the data and information-sharing sector, was an important platform and had been widely applied in ensuring continuity of public services, especially in facing the impact of COVID-19.
“As a dynamic and sustainable department, JKDM must ensure that its employees are digitally literate and always ready to adapt to the current technological transformation in creating and inculcating data ecosystem,” he said.
It is also in line with the National Digital Network (JENDELA) aspirations and Malaysian Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital) initiatives to make Malaysia a leader in an efficient and proactive digital economy sector, hence shaping a high-income nation, he said.
