One Hong Weizhong recently posted to Facebook, complaining about the declaration of face masks and hand sanitisers at Singapore Customs.
His post has since gone viral, racking up over 1,000 shares at the time of writing.
Viral post about declaring masks and hand sanitisers at customs
Hong posted a photo of a notice informing those at Singapore customs to declare "all face masks and sanitisers", aside from the usual tobacco, cigarettes, and alcohol.
Photo from Hong Weizhong / FB
Another photo that Hong shared is a receipt which shows that S$25.20 GST (Goods and Services Tax) was charged for bringing in seven boxes of face masks.
Hong was clearly upset and proceeded to criticise the government for not being sympathetic to its people.
This same image was also posted by one Kimin Chang.
Photo from Hong Weizhong / FB
Singapore Customs clarifies
In response to Mothership's query, a spokesperson from the Singapore Customs said that the Singapore Customs did not impose additional restrictions on the import of face masks and hand sanitisers.
Like all goods brought into Singapore, travellers are required to declare and pay GST if the total value of goods imported for personal use exceeds the GST import relief, or the goods are for commercial purposes.
The notice and the receipt circulated online came from two separate locations.
The notice was put up only at Singapore Cruise Centre at that point in time in response to a surge in the number of ferry passengers hand-carrying sizeable quantities of surgical masks and hand sanitisers into Singapore, Singapore Customs clarified.
As a number of travellers had quantities of masks and sanitisers with values in excess of their GST import relief thresholds or which were for commercial purposes, they were stopped at the baggage screening area and turned back to the Customs service counters for GST payment at the cruise centre.
The notice was put up to remind travellers to make GST payments first if they need to, so as to minimise any inconvenience and expedite the clearance for all travellers at the cruise centre.
But "the intent was misconstrued" in the circulating Facebook post, the statement added.
No similar signs were put up at other checkpoints as this sign was put up to address a specific localised situation encountered at that point in time on the ground at the Singapore Cruise Centre.
Person taxed S$25.20 as the face masks were for sale
The receipt issued by Customs, shared in the same Facebook post, was actually a separate incident.
Singapore Customs clarified that the person was charged S$25.20 GST at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal because the goods were for commercial purposes and thus, no import GST relief was accorded to him.
The person bought S$360 worth of N95 and surgical masks and therefore was charged with 7 per cent GST that is S$25.20 as indicated on the receipt.
Top photo from Hong Weizhong / FB