Akhbar Satar said Malaysia can save billions of ringgit by enforcing the law strictly.

He said withdrawing the permits will ensure that they do not land in the same hands in the future.

“Withdraw them, make a note not to return them. APs have frequently been sold. We should give them to real entrepreneurs carrying out the business and not for them to break the law.

“We have to be strict on taxes as the people who import cars are rich.

“APs are given free as well. And to reap more profits, they even resort to forgery. Miti (the international trade and industry ministry) should seized the permits of companies that abuse them,” he said.

On Friday, the Customs Department said it had seized 21 non-registered luxury vehicles worth RM12.2 million with suspected forged import documents in raids on two warehouses in Shah Alam, Selangor, on May 29.

Customs deputy director-general Azimah Abd Hamid said it was the biggest seizure of luxury cars in the Klang Valley this year.

The vehicles comprised six Lamborghini Huracan, seven Toyota Vellfire, four Toyota Estima, two Mercedes Benz and a BMW and Toyota Alphard.

Azimah said initial investigations found that the vehicles were documented as older cars with false manufacturing date to avoid paying higher taxes.

Akhbar told Bernama the government should consider increasing the budget for the Customs so they could have more advanced technology.

“Some syndicates have more sophisticated equipment than us. There is a need to also ensure the Customs’ workplace is conducive to motivate them to be more effective,” he said.

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) chief activist Nadzim Johan said the Customs should consider a fool-proof checking system to ensure documents were genuine.