The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department today officially buried the hatchet after a death and confusion that marred the recent launch of 'Ops 3B'.

Representatives o azlan f the Customs Officers Union, Customs Senior Officers Association and Ceupacs met with MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed (left) this afternoon to clear the Customs Department’s name of sole responsibility for some RM108 billion in loss of revenue to the country.

Abu Kassim said both agencies have agreed to stop issuing statements on the death of senior Customs officer Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed at the MACC’s Federal Territory headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last week.

“We all agreed that regarding the death, we will let the authorities investigate (the matter)," he told a press conference after the meeting at the MACC’s federal headquarters in Putrajaya.

“The police are investigating, as are our (MACC) professionals who are conducting an internal probe."

On the morning of Apr 6, Ahmad Sarbani was found dead on the ground floor of the MACC's Kuala Lumpur office, not long after he went there for a follow-up meeting with investigating officers attached to the 3B operation.

The Customs assistant director, who was released after questioning several days earlier, was believed to have gone back to hand over some documents to the commission.

It is understood that Ahmad Sarbani was among 62 Customs officers who were nabbed in the MACC-helmed sting operation, which aims to recoup some RM3 billion in estimated annual losses due to corruption within the Customs department.

Following Ahmad Sarbani’s death, the Customs Officers Union, Customs Senior Officers Association and Ceupacs held a series of meetings on Apr 8 and demanded for a meeting with the MACC to get an explanation on claims that the Customs department was allegedly responsible for RM108 billion in losses to national revenue.

The three organisations also urged that the MACC refrain from using physical force on the Customs personnel detained during the operation, while also demanding that the commission retract its alleged claim that Ahmad Sarbani had committed suicide.

Customs: all a misunderstanding

Abu Kassim pointed out that there was a misunderstanding regarding the RM108 billion claim, clarifying that at no point did the MACC say the Customs department was responsible or even related to the figure.

He stressed that the operation was called 3B as it referred to RM3 billion in annual revenue loss due to forgery, under-declaration and other related activities perpetrated by a “small number” of Customs officers.

“The name is based on the objective of the operation, which is to make sure the government can recoup the RM3 billion revenue (lost) through import activities.

“(The losses are) due to fraud and cheating by various parties... the Customs are only one of the many (parties) involved, and even then only a small number (of officers) are involved. We believe even the Customs department has been duped,” he said.

Abu Kassim pointed out that the MACC will hold a series of roundtable discussions with representatives of the Customs department to work on improvements to the latter’s system and procedures in revenue collection.

“RM3 billion is (a) big (amount). It is for the benefit of the people, so that (the government can) build schools, hospitals and low-cost houses.

“We urge the Customs to work with the MACC and all the agencies involved, to make sure this (corruption) can be reduced and collection improves in the coming years,” he said.