BENTONG: The Transport ministry is mulling a review of its procedures in handling cargo that goes through Malaysian ports to curb smuggling activities.
This follows the recovery of over 7,000kg of ivory worth RM40 million in a container that was shipped into Hong Kong via Port Klang in Malaysia from Africa.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the shipment was on transit in Port Klang before it was redicrected to its destination.
This was why a full scan and screening was not conducted on the container that was declared to be a consignment of frozen fish, he said after attending a Hari Raya celebration with Felda Sungai Kemahal residents here.
Liow said the Standard Operating Procedure was followed in shifting the container, where the ivory was found, from one ship to another at Port Klang when it arrived from Africa.
"We believe our SOP for transitting consignments are tight enough, because the consignments are not brought onto land or meant to enter Malaysia.
"The port authories only play a movers role, thus full scanning and screening is not a compulsory on our side, as long as there's a shipment order and complete documentations," Liow said.
In the particular case however Liow said the sender had manipulated the shipment order and falsely claimed the consignment as frozen fish to deceive the port authorities.
"The receiving country is the one responsible of conducting a 100 per cent checks on any shipment, which entered the country," he said but stressed had the authorities receive the information earlier, things could have been different.
Three people from a trading company had been arrested in connection with the recovery of the ivory in Hong Kong, believed to be a major shipment hub for illicit wildlife products.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, Liow said MCA has yet to receive any complaints on the claim that 7,000 traders and business operators had been barred from leaving the country after failing to pay GST.
"We have not received any complaints but if indeed its true, then we will take the matter up. Its not fair to bar a person from leaving the country without prior notice. They should be given time to resolve the matter following a notice before barring them," he said.
Liow added that most of these business operators make foreign trips for their business purpose, so barring without given proper notice is unacceptable. "I will discuss this with the traders and business operators before making further comments."