PUTRAJAYA: The Customs director-general has been lauded for her bravery in acting against her subordinates who allegedly took bribes from a smuggling syndicate and caused billions in losses to the country’s revenue.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin had acted promptly to remove the staff from their workplace at KLIA Cargo and take disciplinary action against them.

“This is the action that we want to see from department heads, rather than trying to hide and protect those who commit wrongdoings,” he said at the Finance Ministry's monthly gathering on Tuesday (April 2).

Expressing confidence that the majority of civil servants were those with integrity, the Prime Minister said the act of a small group of people should not be allowed to tarnish the civil service.

“Rather than hiding the wrongdoings that are happening in departments and agencies, leaders must take action.

“If we don’t act, wrongdoings will continue to happen,” he said.

Over the past week, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had arrested 34 Customs officers assigned to KLIA Cargo in connection with smuggling activities, believed to have caused a leakage of RM2bil in the country’s revenue over the past two years.

The suspects were arrested in a special operation codenamed Ops Samba 2.0 by the MACC, the Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara.

Investigators believe that the officers had received RM4.7mil from the syndicate to facilitate the smuggling of chewable tobacco, cigarettes, liquor, health products and vehicle spare parts.