I feel the need to write this. Now I understand bureaucracy and the absurdity of the whole situation. I bought two music CDs online costing 17 British pounds which translates to RM110. I received a letter from Pos Malaysia - Unit Pelepasan Kastam - advising that the CDs had arrived.

There was no specific request in that letter so I called the number provided. I was advised to go there personally to collect the CDs. Since I am to be working during those hours, the person who answered suggested I speak to an 'Ejen Pelepasan kastam' but that I would need to pay him for his services.

I provided the parcel number, etc, and waited for him to call back but in the end he did not. After days of waiting, I called and found out the probable reason I did not receive a call back. The import duty is 43 percent, which translates roughly to RM47 along with the agent's service fee of RM49. That would make it a total of RM100 based on the conversation I had. This is daylight robbery!

Why do these people make it so difficult for an individual to receive items from overseas? It is not a business item and neither is the purchase of the CDs for business. It is for a personal use and yet the charges are absurd.

When you talk of discontent, here's one clear example why people become dissatisfied with the way things are being handled. I do not know who is in charge but I seriously hope someone at the top of Pos Malaysia and the Customs and Excise Department would look into this so that it is less painful for ordinary folks.

In the end, the person on the line suggested I have the parcel returned if I feel the charges are too much and I agreed for the parcel to be returned. Sadness that our Customs and Excise Department makes it so difficult.