KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — A maritime industry executive today asked whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) would take further action on his report over alleged discrepancies in petroleum cargo records, following the Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s latest disclosure on import declaration irregularities.
Maritime Network Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri R. Jeyenderan lodged the report on June 5 over alleged discrepancies between bills of lading and the physical movement of petroleum cargo at Tanjung Langsat Port, Johor, in transactions reportedly worth millions of ringgit.
The report involved two petroleum cargoes totalling 76,954.325 metric tonnes of Atlanta Crude, valued at more than RM220 million, which were discharged at Tanjung Langsat.
Jeyenderan, who has more than 30 years of experience in the maritime industry, questioned whether the latest information from Customs could give MACC grounds to revisit the concerns raised in his report.
Customs director-general Datuk Seri Amran Ahmad was quoted by Harian Metro as saying that certain importers had allegedly manipulated documents, under-declared the value, weight and quantity of imported goods, and used incorrect tariff codes to evade or reduce import duties and taxes.
Amran said this could potentially result in millions of ringgit in revenue losses to the government.
Jeyenderan said the key concern was traceability, particularly how the authorities and relevant parties could establish what happened to the cargo after it entered storage tanks containing existing inventory, including any subsequent movement, mixing or blending.
He said the relevant records should show the quantity discharged into each tank, the existing inventory, subsequent product movements, laboratory specifications and the quantities eventually removed or transferred, to ensure an unbroken documentary trail.
He stressed that Maritime Network had acted only as the vessel or shipping agent for the cargo movements, and was not the cargo owner, terminal operator, laboratory or Customs authority.
As such, he said, the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved must be clearly established.
Jeyenderan wants MACC to clarify whether the Customs disclosure warrants further investigation, particularly regarding the accuracy of cargo declarations and the applicable regulatory treatment.
He said the main concern was whether the cargo declarations, supporting documents and actual physical movement of the petroleum products were consistent with the relevant Customs requirements.
He also called on the authorities to clarify whether there were any regulatory or revenue implications arising from the handling of petroleum cargoes, particularly where shared storage tanks and blending arrangements were involved.