Brudirect.com - News Headlines

BruneiDirect.Com

Brunei Customs Deny Sugar Smuggling Claim
By Jason Thomas

Bandar Seri Begawan - Authorities have not arrested any individuals or groups smuggling sugar into the Kingdom from Malaysia this year.

The Royal Customs and Excise made the statement following comments by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak last week regarding "irresponsible parties" smuggling sugar out of Malaysia into its neighbouring countries, including Brunei.

"So far this year, we have not caught anyone smuggling sugar into Brunei," a Customs official said.

Customs officers at borders Sungai Tujoh in the Belait district and Kuala Lurah in the Brunei Muara district have not reported any apprehension of individuals or groups attempting to bring in significant amounts of sugar from Malaysia.

Mr Najib commented on the issue in Pekan, Pahang, where he told reporters on Saturday that A large quantity of sugar produced by our manufacturers are smuggled out of the country by irresponsible parties."

Advertisement

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Although the figures on production and demand in Malaysia showed the supply of sugar was adequate, he stressed that "the problem arises because the prices of sugar in Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei are much higher".

He added that the tendency to sell the supply "outside" has contributed to the prevailing artificial shortage in Malaysia.

Sugar smuggling is done in various ways. "It's difficult to control but we are trying (to tackle it)," Mr Najib said, when asked whether big syndicates were involved.

Officials at the Royal Customs and Excise said that although the public did bring sugar from Malaysia into Brunei, it was only for personal consumption.

"Usually, those that bring in sugar from Malaysia buy only one or two kilos, maybe three," a Customs official said.

"This is nothing to worry about, but if we find that they are bringing in sacks of sugar, then we will definitely stop them for questioning.

"Sugar is a subsidised item in the country; therefore we have limits and restrictions on the trade of these controlled goods."

The official was quick to add that there had been instances in the past of people smuggling unrefined sugar into Brunei.

According to the Ministry of Finance's State Store in Gadong, sugar is a strictly controlled item, with a fixed retail price of $12.5Q for each 10-kg sack.

"We get all of our sugar from Thailand, so I don't think we have a problem with people smuggling sugar into the country from Malaysia," said Mohd Hj Abdul Majid from the State Store.

"The State Store buys it at a price of $11.44 or thereabouts for each 10-kg bag, and we then sell it to the stores, who in turn set the price at $12.50," he said, adding that consumers should call the Government's Price Control hotline if they notice a rise in the retail prices. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Back to News Page

Write to Us

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with