SHAH ALAM: The Communications Ministry has urged courier service providers to work closely with the Customs Department and police to curb the misuse of delivery services in criminal activities.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said closer cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was also essential, as there had been reports of courier services being used to deliver prohibited items, including endangered species such as snakes.
“This must start with facts, data and reports on the actions that have been taken. From there, we can understand the modus operandi of criminals.
“If there are loopholes or weaknesses in the process that are being exploited, we urge the courier sector to identify and address them immediately.
“So, it is not just about cooperation with the Customs Department and police, but also working together with NGOs,” he told reporters after launching the Postal Forum Code of Practice for Postal Services here today.
Earlier, in his speech, Fahmi highlighted that the Sarawak Customs Department had seized 42,130g of ecstasy pills worth more than RM7 million in two separate operations in July.
He said the syndicate was believed to have used courier services with falsified packaging and fake recipient addresses to avoid detection.
“Meanwhile, in June, police dismantled the largest drug trafficking syndicate in Sarawak to date, with total seizures worth RM8.53 million.
“The drugs were transported from Peninsular Malaysia using courier services before being distributed in the local market,” he said.
As such, Fahmi said he welcomed the Association of Malaysian Express Carriers to hold discussions with the Customs Department and the police’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department to address the issue comprehensively.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said the Postal Services Fund, mandated under the Postal Services Act, is expected to be fully established by the third quarter of next year.
Touching on the Network Sharing initiative between e-commerce platforms and courier companies, Fahmi said it would encourage e-commerce platforms to work more closely with local courier providers to improve parcel delivery efficiency.
He said the initiative would also benefit local courier firms as the total volume of parcels handled by the industry continues to grow annually, driven by Malaysia’s expanding digital economy.
Fahmi also launched the Code of Practice for Postal Services, the first comprehensive industry framework designed to ensure that the nation’s courier services remain relevant, efficient and uphold integrity in the digital era.
He said the code, developed by the Postal Forum and approved by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) last year, aims to strengthen the industry while promoting greater awareness of consumer protection.
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