Customs : HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY 2014

Instituted by the World Customs Organization (WCO), International Customs Day is held on January 26, which commemorates the day in 1953 when the inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was held in Brussels, Belgium. Therefore, International Customs Day (ICD) is organized yearly to understand the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security. It focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs. Besides that, on this day, custom agency all around the world holds employee appreciation events where custom officers are recognized for their exemplary service. Workshops, conferences and talks that focus on the year’s theme and the challenges that agencies as well as the officers face are also held. Several agencies also hold public outreach events where they educate the public about their jobs and responsibilities.

International customs day is celebrated every year using different themes or slogan to focus on the particular event. The theme of the celebration of international customs day 2010 was “Customs-Business Partnership”. Another theme of the international customs day celebration was “Knowledge, a catalyst for Customs Excellence” to effectively implement the mandatory services by the customs fraternity. The theme of the celebration of 2013 was “Innovation for Customs progress”. In the year 2014, the theme is Communication: sharing information for better cooperation. International Customs Day theme highlights the significance of business partnership approach. It contributes in many areas such as trade supply chain security, worldwide customs growth, enhancing business standards and public-private enterprises. WCO members celebrate international customs day as a magnificent reminder to play vital role to the customs bodies all over the world.

The objectives of Celebrating International Customs Day are as below

·         It is celebrated to enhance the effectiveness and efficacy of the member customs administrations.

·         To innovatively assist the member custom administrations to actively contribute to the custom development.

·         To achieve the international level goals.

·         To enhance the revenue collection, community protection, national security and trade statistics collection.

Attached is the message from the World Customs Organization (WCO) presented by its Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Mahinder Singh Malhi

Road Logistics : REWARD FOR LONG TERM GOALS

There is good news for taxi drivers. Not for all of them in Malaysia but for those who operate in Penang. They have recently received cash incentives worth RM 300.00 from the state government. The incentives were conferred by the Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng to 1,556 taxi drivers of the state in conjunction of Chinese New Year. The chief minister also mentioned that another round of incentives for the amount of RM 300.00 will be given to the taxi drivers for Hari Raya Puasa festival. This is due to their large contribution in the growth of the state’s tourism industry. While incentives are granted by the state government, the Federation of Penang Taxi and Hired Car Drivers’ chairman, Abdul Malek Darus verbalized that the Federal Government will soon announce the new rates for the taxi services in Penang, with indication of 70% to 80% fare hikes from the current rate.

Isn’t that just amazing? At one end, we can be rather proud that something is being done by the relevant government bodies to motivate the taxi drivers with cash incentives worth RM 600.00 and at the same time, a handsome hike in taxi fares will help the taxi drivers to cope up with the elevating cost of living. On the other hand, there are other factors and effects that should be considered when such schemes are introduced. The incentives that were given to 1,556 taxi drivers are deemed as token for appreciation to all taxi drivers. It means that RM 933,600.00 is segregated to those drivers who had worked hard during the festive period and also to those who didn’t. My point is, why not only grant the incentives to those who really deserve the incentives. This is a call for a performance management application whereby, a proper programme is implemented to monitor the performance of the taxi services as well as the drivers and reward them accordingly. This includes the behaviour, cleanliness and other related aspects. With that in place, I strongly believe that the taxi drivers will be motivated and sufficiently competent to ‘grab’ the incentives. And to those cabbies who failed to perform, should not gain any. Therefore, high performing taxi drivers should be rewarded with higher incentives. The balance money allocation should be invested into developing the taxi services as well as training for the drivers such as English courses, self vehicle maintenance courses and much more. On the taxi fare increase, one cannot dispute much as it is necessary for the taxi drivers to sustain the recent increase in fuel prices, prices of spare parts and prices of necessities in their life. However, if at all the speculation of 70% to 80% hike on taxi fare is correct, it will be a real ‘shocking-tsunami-wave’ to consumers. This is because the annual salary increase in Malaysia, be it in the government or private sector, is not increased drastically but gradually every year. So, the taxi fares should also be reviewed carefully and gradually every year instead of waiting for several years before increasing the rates at a ‘frightening’ level. Also another point to note is that, once the taxi fares in Penang are increased, the Federal Government should be prepared to receive urge from taxi drivers of other states for increase in rates too.

By the way, I strongly believe that the old legacy but exhausting and withdrawing transport service in Penang, the trishaw services, is also a large contributor the the state's tourism industry but in need of attention from all parties. What is available in the planning pipeline for these trishaw operators is yet to be made known. 

 

I wish them all the best!

Thank you & have a great week ahead.

Best regards,

Mahinder Singh Malhi