TRAVELLERS arriving in or leaving Malaysia will now have to declare all dutiable or prohibited goods to Customs officers, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said.

CAAM chief executive officer Capt Chester Voo said passengers will have to fill up customs declaration forms.

He said the Customs Department, through a letter dated September 5, has stated that the declaration of Customs Form No. 7 (K7) is a requirement under section 103 of the Customs Act 1967.

According to the Act, every passenger or other person arriving in or leaving Malaysia shall declare all dutiable or prohibited goods in his possession, either on his person or in any baggage or in any vehicle, to the proper officer of customs.

“Under regulation no. 55 of the Customs Regulation 2019, every traveller or other person arriving in or leaving Malaysia shall declare in Form Customs No. 7 in the Third Schedule,” he said in a statement.

However, there were no reasons given for the resumption of this checks, which was halted many years ago.

Voo also said that all airlines entering Malaysia are required to announce the details to all passengers.  

“To comply with the provisions of this legislation for passengers arriving in Malaysia by air, the department requests the cooperation of all airlines entering Malaysia to make announcements to all passengers on the requirement to fill up Form K7 and to submit it to the duty officer of Customs at the airport,” he said.

CAAM also gave a sample announcement that will made in English and Bahasa Melayu before the flight lands.

The English version is as follows:

“Every arriving traveller is required to declare all dutiable and prohibited goods as well as currencies or other monetary instruments of a total amount exceeding US$10,000 (RM45,000) in their possession.

“The declaration shall be made by using Customs Form No. 7 and to be submitted at the Customs Department examination checkpoint. Customs Form No. 7 is available at the Customs Department counter.

“Any false declarations or failure to declare is an offence under Malaysian law.”

It is also unclear if every passenger has to fill up the form or only those who carry dutiable goods or money amounting to more than US$10,000.

Previously, passengers were only required to verbally declare dutiable goods, prohibited items or any amount above US$10,000 to Customs officers.

Customs officers will also carry out random checks on incoming passengers. – October 6, 2022.