Wednesday, 19 Aug 2020 05:28 PM MYTContraband cigarettes seized by the Royal Malaysian Customs displayed during a press conference in Perai on July 29, 2020. ― Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
Recent news reports of burger seller Mohd Asri Hamid's exposé on the illegal cigarette trade and gambling dens within his community is just one example of how pervasive black market trading is in the country. “Amidst the expected uptick in retrenchments and heightened job insecurity, households tend to be more cautious in spending while increasing savings as a buffer against economic uncertainties.