
Five local authority staff remanded over graft probe
Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025
By: Mardinah Jikur Text Size: The five civil servants being escorted out by MACC officers at the Sandakan Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. SANDAKAN: Five local authority civil servants have been remanded for seven days starting Wednesday to assist an anti-corruption probe. Magistrate Yong Ching Hong granted the remand order following a request by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the Sandakan Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. The three men and two women, aged between 30 and 50, were arrested on Tuesday over allegations of receiving bribes from contractors linked to their official duties since 2022. The investigation is being conducted under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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New Straits Times
4 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Flying passports: Immigration enhances safeguards against graft at high-risk entry points
The Immigration Department is doubling down on internal enforcement measures amid renewed scrutiny over frontline integrity. This follows the arrest of four officers over alleged graft at the Malaysia-Singapore border. Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said six anti-graft protocols remained firmly in place, in line with standing orders issued by the director-general of the Immigration Department, to curb abuse and syndicate infiltration at national entry points. "These protocols are not symbolic. They are enforced at high-risk locations, including the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB)," he told the New Straits Times yesterday. "They cover everything from bag and body checks, closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera surveillance, rotation of officers, system access audits and handphone bans to integrity pledges for high-exposure assignments." Rusdi was responding to queries after the arrest of the four enforcement officers at the BSI complex, who were remanded over allegations of stamping foreign passports without the holders being physically present — described as the "flying passport" ruse. Two officers were detained on suspicion of accepting RM3,000 bribes while manning the motor vehicle entry lane. Two others were picked up later. Investigators also seized 14 foreign passports, four mobile phones and RM3,000 cash. The suspects, who have been remanded for six days, are believed to have received RM200 per passport for bypassing verification procedures. The case is investigated under Section 17 of the MACC Act 2009. "This is why internal controls exist," said Rusdi. Immigration enforcement officers at all entry points are prohibited from carrying personal mobile phones, which must be stored in lockers. Bag and pocket inspections are conducted before and after each shift to detect smuggling, cash bribes or unauthorised documents. Immigration counters are monitored around-the-clock via CCTV cameras by the integrity unit. Officers caught engaging in suspicious interactions are flagged for further investigation. He confirmed that the department was still reviewing proposals to equip officers with body-worn cameras and artificial intelligence-backed behavioural monitoring systems. Despite the procedural safeguards, Rusdi admitted that the risk of collusion remained. "We must reinforce a culture of integrity before compromise becomes embedded," he said.


New Straits Times
4 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Stamp it out: 'Flying passports' a serious national security threat, says ex-officer
JOHOR BARU: The "flying passport", which refers to the practice of bypassing border controls, undermines national security and credibility, a former high-ranking Immigration Department officer told the New Straits Times. It refers to the situation where a foreign passport is cleared by immigration enforcement officers without the holder being present at the checkpoint. Thus, they are able to obtain entry and exit stamps without ever leaving their country. Typically, the modus operandi involves the passport being handed over to a third party — often for a fee — who physically transports it across the border to be stamped by immigration officers. The entire process can cost between RM500 and RM2,000, depending on the route, risk and urgency. The veteran, who also had a stint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said if left unchecked, this ruse could open the door to transnational crime, including human trafficking and terrorism. The veteran, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said this was a clear manipulation of border records. "It not only circumvents immigration laws but also exposes the country to far more serious threats. "The modus operandi is simple, yet troubling: a foreigner hands over their passport to a third party, often an agent or a 'runner', who then physically transports the document across an international border — typically via land — to be stamped by immigration officers without the presence of the passport holder. "Once stamped, the passport is flown or returned by courier to its original owner, who now holds a document that suggests legal cross-border movement." The veteran said this ruse had quietly flourished in parts of Southeast Asia, raising red flags on immigration integrity, border security and systemic abuse. On Saturday, four immigration enforcement officers attached to the Johor Customs, Immigrations and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar were arrested for allegedly stamping passports without the holders being physically present at a Malaysia-Singapore land border checkpoint. The "flying passport" operation typically involves collusion with rogue officers or loopholes in border protocols. The practice has been reported between countries with open or porous land borders, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and, in the past, Singapore. For Malaysia, repeated incidents of "flying passports" can attract scrutiny from partners such as Singapore, Japan and the European Union. Some foreign workers use this method to bypass overstay penalties, renew tourist visas indefinitely or dodge biometric registration — making it harder for authorities to monitor undocumented employment and tax leakage.


Daily Express
7 hours ago
- Daily Express
Driver dies, teen injured in Ranau crash
Published on: Monday, July 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 By: Clarence Dol Text Size: Firefighters at the scene. RANAU: A 42-year-old man died and another was injured after the Perodua Kancil they were travelling in collided with a palm fruit-laden lorry along KM45 of the Ranau-Telupid Road on Sunday. The Fire and Rescue Department said the car, believed to be heading towards Ranau, had veered into the opposite lane before the crash at about 1.15pm. The driver, Sylvester Pius Gulmit, was confirmed dead while receiving treatment at the Paginatan Health Clinic. His 18-year-old passenger sustained minor injuries, including scratches and bruises. Firefighters, who arrived after the victims were taken to the clinic, disabled the car battery as a safety measure, while the lorry driver was not present at the scene. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia