Malaysian company Syarikat Lam Aik’s Ahmad Liaw Abdullah was fined RM75,000 by the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (SRIB) for their attempt to smuggle out 20.18 tonnes of raw rubber to Sarawak in October last year.
The company had falsified documents and tried to pass the raw rubber as poultry feed to escape paying RM11,607.29 in tax and were detained by SRIB enforcers.
“SRIB will further strengthen its licensing and enforcement to prevent smuggling of rubber out of the State,” General Manager Datuk Harris Matthews said. He also cautioned that those interested to go into the rubber business to acquire licences from the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry Permanent Secretary.
“This is to ensure a properly regulated rubber industry in the State. Nurseries are also required to obtained licences to ensure quality seedlings are produced and sold to the public,” he said.