Through “Operation Rejang” in Sarawak, Inland Revenue Board Strengthens Enforcement Efforts

(Sibu, 23rd) The Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia launched the fourth round of nationwide tax compliance enforcement action named “Operation Rejang” on Monday (21st) in Sibu, marking the first time this enforcement action is fully implemented in the “Land of the Hornbills,” Sarawak.

 

The five-day “Operation Rejang” is being held simultaneously in the four major cities of Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri from April 21 to 25, with the aim of improving taxpayers' compliance with tax laws. This action also saw collaborative participation from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

 

As emphasized by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar in his speech at the 29th “Tax Day” celebration, the government will uphold the principle of fair taxation and harshly crack down on any tax evasion practices. In this context, the Inland Revenue Board has actively launched comprehensive enforcement and advocacy efforts to promote a nationwide tax compliance culture.

 

The action brings together as many as 276 Inland Revenue Board enforcement officers, identifying 1,168 cases covering various risk categories. Operation Rejang encompasses five key action directions: tax audits, strategic compliance investigations, taxpayer verification, tax collection, and legal action. The enforcement also focuses on high-risk areas such as the shadow economy, diesel smuggling, construction services, contractors, and wholesale trade.

 

During the operation, relevant enforcement officers will issue formal notices to taxpayers who have not fulfilled their tax declaration obligations. Another highlight of this operation is the collaborative achievements with the Companies Commission of Malaysia, particularly in achieving results in the following two areas:

Through on-site inspections and the GeoHasil system marking, verify the status of “dormant” companies; share registered company data with the Companies Commission of Malaysia to assist in screening companies without a registered Tax Identification Number (TIN) for inclusion in the tax management system.

 

The launch ceremony of “Operation Rejang” was held on Monday at the Inland Revenue Board office in Sibu, officiated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Inland Revenue Board, Dato’ Abu Tariq Jamaluddin. Attending guests included Sarawak Director of the Companies Commission of Malaysia, Mohamad Ramli, several Deputy Chief Executives, and senior management of the Inland Revenue Board.

 

In his speech, Abu Tariq noted that “Operation Rejang” is a continuation of the success of last year’s “Operation Borneo 1.0,” reflecting the Inland Revenue Board's firm commitment to promoting tax compliance in Sarawak.

 

He emphasized the crucial importance of strategic cooperation between the Inland Revenue Board and enforcement agencies like the Companies Commission of Malaysia when dealing with increasingly complex tax evasion methods, to achieve more integrated, effective, and systematic governance.

 

He also stated that the tax officers participating in this operation not only bear the responsibility of enforcement but also act as important educational messengers promoting the awareness of electronic invoicing (e-Invois), guiding taxpayers towards a sustainable culture of conscious tax declaration.

 

The Inland Revenue Board believes that through targeted enforcement activities and long-term cooperation with other enforcement units, taxpayers’ compliance awareness can be effectively improved, further consolidating the foundation of national economic development and providing a reference model for similar actions in other regions in the future.

For more information or to provide feedback, the public can contact the Inland Revenue Board through the following methods:

Call the Inland Revenue Board Contact Centre: 03-8911 1000 / +603-8911 1000 (international), use the Inland Revenue Board online live chat service, fill out the official feedback form (URL: https://maklumbalaspelanggan.hasil.gov.my/Public)