KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Malaysia’s graftbusters should implant undercover agents in all enforcement agencies to help curb smuggling and abuse of power, a DAP MP suggested today.

Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming brought up the example of the illegal cigarette trade, which costs the government aproximately RM2billion in lost taxes annually.

“MACC should place their own agents in the enforcement bodies as informers,” Nga said, referring to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s acronym.

According to the British American Tobacco Malaysia, approximately four out of every 10 packs of cigarettes sold in Malaysia are smuggled.

A global tobacco report in 2009 released by global investment banking, securities and investment management firm Goldman Sachs also showed Malaysia holds the top spot globally in the contraband cigarettes trade, following a study of 52 countries around the world.

Today, Nga stressed that wastages, misappropriation and illicit trade have contributed to the country’s current financial standing.

“This shows the incompetence from the aspect of law enforcement by government agencies such as yesterday, when it was revealed that police had lost guns in the toilet, such negligence should be avoided,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Minister in the Prime Minister Datuk Paul Low had said that the government will employ 500 integrity officers for all government departments.

“We urge that the government will prioritise enforcement agencies.

“These integrity officer or MACC spies need to be sent out immediately to all enforcement agencies, either in the customs, police, immigration or SPAD [Land Public Transport Commission] to prevent irregularity which had brought huge loses to government’s income,” the DAP man said.

According to the 2012 Auditor-General’s report, the Royal Malaysian Police Force recorded a total of 309 missing items in the form of weapons, handcuffs and cars.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had initially said the guns were lost at sea during operations but Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday said the guns were lost in toilets, among other places, and not at sea.

It was also reported that the Royal Customs Department wasted RM600,000 on 7,659 pairs of shoes that were not according to specification and were badly damaged due to prolonged storage.