KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat on Tuesday as buying interest rotated away from index heavyweights towards smaller-cap construction stocks, with sentiment affected by geopolitical uncertainty, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.39 of a point to 1,714.40 from Monday’s close of 1,714.79. The benchmark index opened 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14 and moved between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the trading session. The broader market was almost evenly balanced, with decliners leading gainers 548 to 546, while 598 counters were unchanged, 1,107 were untraded and 25 were suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.13 billion units valued at RM3.14 billion from 3.60 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Monday.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has made it clear: tariff evasion is no longer a “quiet offense.” It’s now the second-highest white-collar crime priority under its new enforcement strategy — and businesses with US exposure need to take note.
Speaking at a legal seminar in Kuala Lumpur, former US federal prosecutor Artie McConnell emphasized the urgency for companies to establish solid compliance programs. The goal: to avoid DOJ scrutiny and reduce potential criminal liability.
“Tariff evasion has been like speeding — everyone does it, and few get caught. That’s changing fast,” McConnell warned.
What Counts as Tariff Evasion?
According to McConnell, the DOJ is now actively targeting:
Transshipment – routing goods through lower-tariff countries.
Undervaluation – declaring a lower value than actual.
Misclassification – using the wrong HTS codes to reduce tariffs.
Although these actions may be hard to prosecute criminally due to technical complexity, they’re fair game in civil cases — and the reputational and operational risks are significant.
Why This Matters to Investors and Companies
Higher Compliance Risk for Exporters: Malaysian firms exporting to the US — especially those with complex supply chains — should expect tighter scrutiny.
Increased Whistleblower Threat: With the DOJ’s new whistleblower reward programme, tips related to tariff fraud could rise significantly.
Banking & Business Disruption: Companies under investigation risk losing access to US banking services or having global partners pull away.
Analyst Insight
For investors, this means:
Scrutinize companies with large US revenue exposure — especially those in manufacturing and trading.
Watch for firms enhancing compliance infrastructure — this could become a differentiator.
Evaluate ESG & governance disclosures — especially in sectors like gloves, electronics, and commodities.
McConnell’s key takeaway? “A good compliance program does 90% of the work to stay off the DOJ’s radar.” It’s now a cost of doing business — and avoiding it is no longer an option.
Comments
Post a Comment