AG's Report 2015: Customs Department's special refunds claims inefficiently managed

PETALING JAYA: The Customs Department came under criticism for its inefficient management of the special refunds claims.
The Auditor General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said the department had yet to process claims amounting to RM555.86 million.
"The department had received 2,540 applications for goods held on hand valued at RM 13.255 billion with special refund claims amounting to RM732 million.
"As of May 31st 1,863 applications had been processed and the remaining 677 applications had yet to processed amounting to RM555.85 million," he said.
Ambrin pointed out in his report some applications took more than 14 working days, resulting in delays between one to 72 days.
He said the lax of reviewing and approving process of 13 applications out of 346 audit samples, a sum of RM0.59 million was erroneously approved.
The AG urged the audit quality branch of compliance management divisions to reassess all claims to ensure special refunds are not erroneously paid to claimants.