SEVEN rice exporters from Vietnam claimed to have been given the run around by the Malaysian Customs over their consignment of 351 containers bound for the Philippines that were seized during transshipment at the Sepanggar Port in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in October 5 last year.

A spokesman from the group, Peter Doan said the consignment left Vietnam in September 8 and was supposed to head to Labuan Port for transshipment, but it was diverted to Sepanggar Port instead on September 10 due to congestion.

But when they applied for loading and to head to Labuan Port on September 24, the Kota Kinabalu Customs office rejected their transshipment.

“At first, the Customs requested for us to produce the permit. But there was no need for a permit. Not until March 31, according to the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry.

“Then the Kota Kinabalu Customs office changed the charges and said we had discharged our containers without Customs declaration.

“But that does not make sense as all the paperwork is for transshipment and the declaration could only be done in Labuan Port.

“After that, the Customs changed their reasoning again and briefed the Customs head office in Kuala Lumpur that we kept our containers for a long time in Sepanggar for the purpose of smuggling,” he said.

Doan was speaking on behalf of Phung Hoang Rice Joint Stock, which comprise seven rice exporters – Phat Tai Company Limited, Phung Hoang Rice JSC, Long An Food Stuff Company Limited, Long An Food Company, Hanoi Trade Joint Stock Corporation, Kien Giang Trading JSC and Orient Rice Co Ltd

The group also staged a peaceful protest in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Vietnam on Saturday, accusing the Malaysian Customs and national rice producer Beras Nasional (Bernas) of stealing their rice export.

The group also alleged the Customs officer in charge of the seizure, Taufik Sulaiman, who is Sabah Customs Enforcement deputy director, only announced the seizure to their Sabah representatives verbally, without any seizure list or any charge sheet of any offence.

Doan said the group may compel the Vietnam Food Association and their prime minister to halt rice export to Sabah if their consignment is not released.

Meanwhile, it is understood Putrajaya has postponed any transshipment of goods until end of March while the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry has been instructed to present a cabinet paper on the “way forward” for transshipment.

Top officials from the ministry verified the Customs Department had seized the consignment due to dubious declaration as based on the ship’s bill of lading the ship, MV Formosa No. 9, was supposed to call in Labuan, but instead diverted to Kota Kinabalu.

“The ship and rice consignment is presently being investigated and will be charged under Customs Act for making false declaration and other offences.

“The case is not passed to the ministry but instead will be probed by the Customs until they can be charged,” the source said. – March 10, 2019.