KLANG, July 11: Businessman Datuk Seri R. Jeyenderan who logded a report more than a month ago with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) alleging discrepancies in compliances processes involving petroleum cargo documentation in a port’s operations, said he was happy that the anti-corruption body has already started its investigation on the matter.
Jeyenderan, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Network Sdn Bhd, spoke to reporters after handing over a letter to the Chief Commissioner’s office on Friday. He said he was at the MACC to follow up on his report and check on the status of the investigation.
“I am very happy that MACC has started the probe, as my report is not about a single company alone. It has deeper implications as it involves the issue of compliance to the various significant processes in the port and maritime industry.
“These processes are important as they not only ensure that goods coming into the country are properly declared and the appropriate taxes are levied, but they also document the subsequence discharge of the related goods. Petroleum for instance are not only stored but they can be also mixed for further distribution and these changes in content must be also recorded and the taxes involved paid accordingly.
“When there is a lack of compliance or the documentation is inadequate there will be a loss of revenue for the government as well. There are various processes involved from the time of the goods arrival, to their transfer for storage and mix before distribution and so on,” Jeyendran said.
“We met the MACC officials in May and lodged an official report in June. If the issues we’ve raised are substantiated through the investigation, they could have wider implications for regulatory compliance, government revenue and confidence in our maritime and petroleum industries. We’re not here to pressure anyone, we respect SPRM and the investigation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the MACC confirmed that its investigation into allegations of discrepancies involving petroleum cargo documentation at Tanjung Langsat Port in Johor has been received and reviewed by the Information Assessment Committee (JMM).
–WE