THE proposed joint task force between the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department to tackle smuggling activities has yet to be finalised, with both agencies still ironing out details.
Customs, in a reply to The Vibes, said the matter was still being discussed between the two agencies and that further information would be provided once the framework was agreed upon.
“For your information, this matter is still at the discussion stage between both agencies. Official information will be shared with media partners once it has been finalised,” the department said.
The response comes after the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) called for stronger safeguards and clearer accountability measures surrounding the proposed collaboration.
C4 had raised concerns over how the task force would function, including its oversight structure and whether it would have clear responsibilities to address enforcement weaknesses.
The development comes amid renewed attention on smuggling activities following several recent cases involving cross-border movements of illegal goods.
Among them was the arrest of a Malaysian pilot in Jakarta after Indonesian authorities found drugs hidden in his luggage following his arrival from Kuala Lumpur, raising questions over how syndicates continue to exploit international travel routes.
The case is among several incidents that have placed greater focus on cooperation between enforcement agencies responsible for border control and investigations.
While Customs did not provide details on the timeline for the task force, it said official information would be released once discussions between both agencies were concluded.
It is also unclear whether the proposed task force will focus on intelligence sharing, joint investigations or coordinated enforcement operations between MACC and Customs.
The absence of further details means attention will now be on how quickly the initiative can move from discussions to implementation, particularly as authorities continue efforts to curb smuggling activities. – August 6, 2026
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