The government spokesman said maintaining the industry’s integrity is crucial following several cases of courier services being abused to smuggle drugs worth millions of ringgit over the past year.
Fahmi cited the Sarawak customs department’s seizure of more than 42kg of ecstasy pills worth over RM7 million in July following a police operation a month earlier that busted the state’s largest drug syndicate, with RM8.53 million worth of drugs.
The drugs were believed to have been sent through courier packages from Peninsular Malaysia.
Fahmi said customs officers also recorded their largest seizure at KLIA last year involving 81kg of syabu worth RM2.6 million that syndicates had attempted to smuggle into Sabah using false declarations.
“We must acknowledge that the courier industry is not immune to misuse,” he said when officiating the 2025 National Courier Day, themed “Delivering for the People, Connecting the Nation”.
“Therefore, the courier industry must work closely with enforcement agencies such as the police and customs to ensure service security, delivery integrity and compliance with the law.”
Fahmi said the courier sector has become a vital component of Malaysia’s digital economy, which is valued at RM6.8 billion annually and employs over 120,000 workers who support the country’s e-commerce and logistics growth.
“This industry is no longer just about delivering parcels — it connects millions of consumers and businesses,” he said.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by local players, who struggle to compete against international companies dominating more than 90% of the domestic delivery market.
However, he said the government’s Courier Network Sharing Framework will help create a fairer competitive environment.
“This framework — the first of its kind in Asean — is built on the principles of capacity, data and operational sharing to empower local companies.”
Fahmi also launched the Code of Practice for Postal Services (CPPS) at the event today, the first comprehensive industry document to serve as the national operational standard for courier services.
He said the CPPS, developed by the Postal Forum and approved by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) last year after extensive consultations, will ensure service quality, worker safety and consumer protection, especially for vulnerable groups.
“I urge all service providers who have yet to implement the CPPS to immediately incorporate it into their SOPs. This is crucial to strengthen the industry and enhance consumer confidence and protection,” he said.