You wouldn’t believe what I did at the Malaysian Custom last Friday.
When I was young and needed to travel overseas on my own, my dad always made sure that all the new items I carried across the border would have the original packaging removed. Each and every item. As I grow older, I deduce that if the items are for self use, it is OK to carry them over from one country to another. Where does the line being drawn? I have no clue. I am sure travellers visit places overseas and buy souvenirs for friends. Some are pretty big ticket items (like the Swiss watches). Who would shop overseas and declare all their goods at the Custom and get themselves taxed?
Seriously?
Last Friday morning, as Cynthia left our home and headed to the airport, she smiled at me and said, “See you in Malaysia tonight!” I smiled back and said, “No no no! See you in Singapore next week!”. The truth was, I did not give Cynthia a firm yes that I would drive all the way and visit her over the weekend. Call it a semi-surprise visit or an internal struggle yet to be sorted out. I hadn’t even packed my bag that early Friday morning.
I knew she has to work over the weekend and I have thousand and one things I could do in Singapore. But then … why not make someone happy and besides, I always love a little adventure. I had no idea where and how to get to PJ Hilton.
So I packed my bag in a hurry (still needed to go to work for half a day), brought along a new brainless book, grabbed my Spanish classical guitar, and … that should be enough to keep myself entertained.
Except, I had this sudden urge to attempt to write some songs during this road trip and I have stumbled upon a nice neat toy a while back that condenses the entire home recording studio into a hand-held device! I just had to buy that before heading to Malaysia!
Fast forward to the Malaysian Custom, one friendly officer asked me to open the car boot and he pointed at my shopping bag and asked, “What is it inside?”
“Erm … it’s a recorder,” I replied gingerly and already cursing my own stupidity.
He took it out from my shopping bag and clearly had no idea what it was. It is definitely not something you can commonly see in all good electronic stores. Carrying with him my brand new toy, he consulted his group of officers (must be like 6 or 7 of them gathering by the desk … very intimidating!)
“You need a permit for this,” he smiled.
In any other given days, I would have loved his friendly smile. I said, “I don’t understand. It is just a recorder. More like a MP3 player!”
“I know, I know! Well, you will need a permit in order to bring this into Malaysia. But I shall tax you instead. It is much better that way,” he said.
“Tax me?! But it is for my own use!” I gently protested.
“Do you have a receipt?” he asked.
Now, how stupid I was?! I could have said: no, but I remember it cost 10 bucks. Instead, I passed him the receipt. He took out a calculator, punched in some numbers, and said, “The tax is 30% and that will be RM 175.”
I was nearly in tears! I pleaded with him that I bought it just before lunch and I planned to use it to record my guitar this evening (I didn’t dare to show him my mint condition S$1,500 guitar at the back seat that has a receipt inside … the best place to keep a receipt is with the item itself, no?). I even tried to strike up a conversation with him on music. To tell you the truth, he must be the most sympathetic and friendly Malaysian Custom officer I have ever met.
After much deliberation with all sort of analogies I could think of (he was very patience too!), he did not bulge and kept telling me that he was just doing his job. Reluctantly, I took out my wallet ready to hand him RM 175. He was taken aback and said, “Don’t you want a receipt? You have to pay the tax over there.” He pointed at somewhere far.
That’s it. I wasn’t going to walk! It would be a walk of shame! And I would be haunted by this stupid moment of mine for the rest of my life! I counter suggested that I should just throw away the packaging right here right now. He was shocked slightly and smile, “Sorry Sir, I have already seen the box!”
“But it doesn’t matter! I will rip the box apart. And you won’t see it again! Besides, I wouldn’t be able to sell that in Malaysia right?” I insisted. OK, my heart would bleed because I do keep all my toys inside the original packages all the time. But between RM 175 and heart pain, I would choose the latter.
As I attempted to take the box from his hand, he stopped me and said, “Let me ask my supervisor.”
The supervisor looked really cold and stern. Actually he did look very scary. I was not sure if I could muster enough courage to face him.
The officer presented my case. the supervisor kept quiet at first and then let out one command in Malay. He didn’t even bother to look at me! The officer returned and asked, “What passport are you holding?”
Huh?! Now only you ask that from me?!
“Singaporean passport!” I held my breath.
“Next time, please don’t do that again,” he said. I was in such a relief that I even shook his hands!
Gosh, isn’t that a bit out of proportion?! 30% tax?! For something that I actually use. Lesson learned. Always listen to what daddy say. He has more grey hair than me for a reason.
27 responses so far ↓
1 motd // Mar 31, 2008 at 3:19 am
This is the first time I have heard of such things. Is he asking for coffee money in an indirect way?
2 eastcoastlife // Mar 31, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I have many such ‘horror’ stories of Malaysian custom officers to tell. I try not to go to Malaysia if I could, I hate the customs. It’s always about money when they see my red passport. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.
3 Alan Wong // Mar 31, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Wilfrid,
Obviously he was trying to wear out your patience in the hope that you will hand over some undercounter coffee money to him instead of paying for the official tax/fine which does not benefit him at all.
For most of us seasoned travellers to Malaysia, there are many ways to deal with such customs/police officers. But first of all remember not lose your temper with them. There is always an ego with these enforcement officers.
If you are patient enough, try to outdo their patience by not agreeing to tax/fine imposed. The longer they have to deal with you, the better chance would be that they will let you go ultimately because it will mean lost opportunities to catch other fishes.
Remember your rights as a foreigner visiting another country, especially regarding duty payable items or fines for traffic violations.
If I am not mistakened, items brought in for personal use should not be taxed unless it is still in original packing. Even then, you can argue that it is meant to be a free gift as there is no dutible tax on personal gifts costing a certain amount & below.
There is also no dutible tax on personal computers, notebooks or battery-operated equipment, so if you bring in your LCD TV, try to explain that it is actually a PC monitor.
At the end of the day if you can’t win them, just don’t be prepared to pay for whatever the amount asked. There is always room for bargaining and if you bother to ask whether there is any other way for them to help you reduce the amount payable, you be amazed how helpful they can be in reducing your financial burden!
4 Cynthia // Mar 31, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Wow.. That’s crazy.. I didn’t know that you had to go through that with your new recorder, to visit me…
5 Char // Mar 31, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Nothing to do with Malaysian customs: it is the same everywhere.
Customs and Immigration are the place where bad luck screws you.
6 wilfrid // Mar 31, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Motd - I am not so sure you know. Honestly speaking, bribing an officer in broad daylight was the last thing in my mind. I always not sure if they will turn the table around and charge me for bribery!
7 wilfrid // Mar 31, 2008 at 7:03 pm
ECL - Actually, I have crossed that borders quite a number of times and usually it is OK. It didn’t cross my mind that I have to be mindful for an item that only worths a couple of hundred dollars.
8 wilfrid // Mar 31, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Alan - Thanks for your advice! Fortunately, I didn’t loose my patience with them as I am usually a patience man. It was hard for me as I really have no clue about their rules so there wasn’t any basis for argument anyway.
I seriously wasn’t sure if they were asking for coffee money and I doubt if I could bring myself to bribe them in broad daylight.
But I will bear in mind how to ask them to help me lessen the ‘financial burden’ … ha ha ha.
9 wilfrid // Mar 31, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Cynthia - Ah, not to worry. I have put that behind the moment I stepped onto the accelerator and left the checkpoint. After all, no harm done
Hopefully I will get smarter after this event though.
10 wilfrid // Mar 31, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Char - I guess some countries are more transparent than others. And it has to do with the corruption rate as well. But ya, sometimes it is just pure bad luck.
11 limleen // Apr 1, 2008 at 2:35 am
haa… u r so sweet actually, to give a surprise visit & indeed i think its kinda an experience to learn from it.
12 tigerfish // Apr 1, 2008 at 9:36 am
Now I shall shun away from Malaysian customs. I have not visited for more than 5 yrs… and this is holding me back! heee….can you post a picture of THE … “suspicious character” ? Ha!
13 G // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I never visit Malaysia unless I have to because of this.
During CNY, we do give the custom people Ang Pows.
Do you know that a few of my Singapore friends have been taxed for GST at the Changi Airport customs because they obviously did ALOT of shopping?
You are not supposed to bring in goods more than $500 I think. If you do, hide it well!
You mean he saw your red Singapore passport and he let you off?
Interesting!
The customs in Vietnam usually treat me like crap till they see my red passport. Cos my passport cover is in green and from far, it looks like a Vietnamese passport.
Pfffftttttttttt.
14 sislora // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:35 pm
oh… in fact, you are quite brave to ‘negotiate’ with them for so long already…
ya… bribing in broad daylight doesn’t sound so safe… no worth to take that risk for an issue which can be solved by money…
I heard from my boss that the Malaysian Custom conducts the check tightly, esp for CD and DVD…
ya… just remember our parents’ teaching to remove all the packaging and price tag before we pass the Custom…
P.S. Is it a soft toy appeared in your photo? Looks cute…
15 wilfrid // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Leen - Definitely a hard-to-forget experience! Next time must get smarter.
16 wilfrid // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Tigerfish - I guess it is just my luck. I do like the highland resorts in Malaysia though. And Penang as well. Just going through the checkpoint could be a hassle. The KLIA (airport) is much better though. More International I guess.
17 wilfrid // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:25 pm
G - Really?! You gave Custom people ang pows? Why?!
I think because my passport is red, I am not a resident in Malaysia. So in a way, there is lesser reason to ‘tax’ me. I thought what they did kind of make sense.
Next time in Vietnam, I must wave my red passport so that they won’t treat me like shit. Ha ha ha.
18 wilfrid // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Lora - Well, I did not really intend to negotiate. I was more trying to explain myself but you know me, somehow it took a long time for me to get to a point. Ha ha ha.
PS. That thingie belongs to Cynthia (sshhhh). I was trying to take a picture and send it to Cynthia. Because I didn’t give her a firm answer to visit or not, I thought the image would have said it all. Unfortunately, the telecommunication network in Malaysia did not quite work the way I wish it to be.
19 JT // Apr 2, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Haha. Sorry, when I read about your encounter, I was laughiing cos I found it hilarious though it must have been frustrating at that time. Anyway, glad things went well after that and it is soooooooooooo sweet of you to think of taking that pic and sending it to her! I like that!
20 wilfrid // Apr 2, 2008 at 2:32 pm
JT - Ha ha ha … it was a pretty hilarious encounter. Though I must say, during that time without knowing which way the situation would turn, it was pretty nerve wrecking for me.
21 Michael // Apr 4, 2008 at 6:26 pm
hi ya! My fren send me your site since you have a similiar case like me.
I go to singapore by train! and bought a audio interface and is my 1st time buying stuff from oversea… so I have no idea about the tax stuff!
so they same charge me 30% for the stuff~
and so is 150SGD
I’ve no cash to pay it and they rushing me because the train gonna go off soon~ So now they keep my stuff and have to pay the tax to get back my stuff in 30 days~
If we take off the box they wont charge any tax?
22 wilfrid // Apr 5, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Michael - So, the Malaysia custom is holding your audio interface till you return to pay the tax?! That’s extortion!
I guess my best advice is to check out the comments written by Alan above. He has some thoughts on what you may wish to do. Meanwhile, I think you may also wish to read up a bit on what rights you have.
Best of luck!
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24 Jason G // Apr 16, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Here’s another advice, My GF just depart from KLIA airport on 14th apr and the custom office seized her make-up+facial set worth more then rm1000 saying it is due to security reason and didnt offer her a receipt so that she can collect when she come back. Make Sure you check in your SK II and other facial set when you fly out of KLIA. Now still waiting for their reply on this issue. I think most likely she burn her rm1000 8(
25 wilfrid // Apr 16, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Jason G - Wow, that is a lot of money. Isn’t it the new International airport rule saying that we cannot carry more than 100 ml per liquid type (such as face wash, shaving cream, etc) onto the plane and have to keep them in a clear bag? I can’t remember what the limit is and suddenly, all the travellers now have to get those little plastic bottles. Talk about environmentally friendliness.
But still, due to the value of the product, the Custom should offer a way for the passengers to claim these items back when they return. I would be very upset otherwise.
Best of luck (for your GF)! Or you may have a set of expensive presents to buy
26 wilfrid // Apr 16, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Jason G - Oh … I just checked with Cynthia, the Custom should give your GF an option to check the items in!
Terrible they are!
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