By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 13: Durian moringa, mangoes, and peppers were among agricultural produce seized at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex (ICQS) Merapok earlier this month after being brought in without complying with plant quarantine regulations.
According to a TVS news report, ICQS Merapok Lawas said in a statement that the items were confiscated by the Sarawak and Sabah Agriculture Departments after they were believed to have been transported in violation of existing plant quarantine laws and regulations.
The statement said the seizure was carried out under the Regulations and Policies on Plant Movement Control, which prohibit the movement of certain plants, planting materials and agricultural produce into Sarawak and Sabah without a valid import permit and phytosanitary certificate.
“These controls are enforced under the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167) and the Plant Quarantine Regulations 1981, with administrative authority in Sarawak and Sabah vested in the respective Agriculture Departments,” it said.
ICQS Merapok further stated that the regulations cover fresh fruits and live planting materials, which are not permitted to enter without proper inspection and valid documentation, even when transported from other states within Malaysia, including movement between Sarawak and Sabah.
“The controls are not limited to large-scale commercial trade, but also apply to individuals who carry live planting materials through postal services or across state borders without proper declaration,” it added.
ICQS Merapok said such enforcement efforts serve as a benchmark for strengthened enforcement, involving not only document checks but also coordinated roles by various agencies.
The statement also highlighted the close collaboration between the Sarawak and Sabah Agriculture Departments with other agencies, including the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) and the General Operations Force (PGA), as a strong example of inter-agency cooperation at ICQS Merapok.
“Congratulations to the officers and personnel of the Sarawak and Sabah Agriculture Departments. Enforcement will continue from time to time to ensure that laws enforced by all agencies at ICQS Merapok are fully applied against any offences,” it said. — DayakDaily
