Beyond the Headlines: Flying passports & border security [WATCH]
At the centre of the scandal is a scheme known as the "flying passport" — a term describing how foreign passports are cleared at border checkpoints without their holders ever being physically present.
Instead, the passport is handed to a third party — often for a fee — who transports it across the border to be stamped by corrupt immigration officers.
This loophole allows the passport holder to obtain legitimate entry and exit stamps without even leaving their country.
In early July, four immigration officers stationed at Johor's CIQ Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) — the busiest land border crossing with Singapore — were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
They were found to have repeatedly stamped foreign passports without the passport holders present, in exchange for bribes.
This syndicate effectively offered a "fast-pass" into Malaysia — particularly for foreigners at risk of overstaying, working illegally, or re-entering the country without valid permits.
What's more troubling is that this wasn't an isolated case, but part of a systematic abuse of weaknesses within our border control systems.
The term "flying passport" captures how these documents changed hands between runners — not the travellers themselves — before ending up with rogue officers.
So, what does this say about the integrity of our border enforcement, national security, and public trust?
Joining us to unpack it all is Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) criminologist and psychologist Associate Professor Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat.
Catch the full discussion now on NST's YouTube channel — @NSTOnline.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Mining bribery case: Next court date set for Sept 23
KOTA KINABALU: The Special Corruption Court has fixed Sept 23 for further pre-trial case management in the mining prospecting case involving two assemblymen and a businessman. The court set the date on Tuesday (Aug 5) after the prosecution requested more time to prepare documents, including forensics reports, information from telecommunications companies, and confirmation from Immigration. Judge Jason Juga allowed the date and extended bail for all the accused. ALSO READ: Two Sabah assemblymen, businessman claim trial over RM350,000 mining bribe case On June 30, Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, and Selangor-based businessman Datuk Albert Tei Jiann Cheing, 37, pleaded not guilty before judge Juga after being separately charged under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. They were accused of receiving and giving bribes totalling RM350,000 in relation to mineral prospecting licence applications. ALSO READ: Mining bribery case: GRS will let legal process take its course, says Hajiji According to the charge sheets, Dr Yusof, 69, who is also the Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman, allegedly received RM200,000 in cash from Tei on March 6, 2023, at 2pm at a hotel restaurant here, as an inducement to facilitate the approval of a prospecting licence for Nusa Kini Sdn Bhd to conduct mineral exploration in Sabah. Andi, 44, was accused of accepting RM150,000 in cash from Tei on May 12, 2023, outside his residence here, for assisting with the prospecting licence application of Sinaran Hayat Sdn Bhd. Tei was charged with giving bribes to both assemblymen in connection with the same licence applications.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Agarwood trafficking syndicate busted in joint op
MELAKA: Bukit Aman's Wildlife Crime Bureau, together with multiple enforcement agencies, managed to dismantle a major illegal agarwood trafficking syndicate following two raids that netted RM106mil in seizures. Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the bust followed intelligence gathered under Ops Bersepadu Khazanah, which led to the raids on a factory in the Bukit Rambai Industrial Area and a house in Ayer Keroh here on July 31. 'In the first raid, officers discovered large quantities of suspected agarwood logs and chunks, believed to contain agarwood powder, sieving machines and oil distillation stoves at the factory,' he said at the raid site yesterday. Initial investigations revealed that the aquilaria malaccensis species is believed to have been illegally sourced from across the country, including from a golf course here. DCP Dzulkhairi revealed that among the seized items were 566 sacks of karas wood weighing 12,178kg, 277 sacks of wood powder (5,783kg), boxed karas wood (100kg), damar karas wood (2,585kg), 43.84 cubic metres of agarwood oil and 167 stumps suspected to be illegally imported. Police also confiscated equipment such as machinery and gas cylinders worth RM384,362. 'Two male foreigners, employed without valid permits, were also arrested at the site,' he said. DCP Dzulkhairi said checks revealed that the factory owner was not registered with the Forestry Department. In the second raid on the house, police detained a 55-year-old local woman. 'We are not ruling out the possibility that this case is linked to at least three incidents involving the disappearance of agarwood from forest areas near golf courses in the state. 'We suspect the syndicate was catering to both local and international markets,' he added. The case is being investigated under Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Section 84 of the National Forestry Act 1984, among others. Participating agencies in the operation included the Forestry Department, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Inland Revenue Board, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, Malaysian Timber Industry Board, Melaka City Council and the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council.
The Star
20 hours ago
- The Star
MACC officers acquitted of gang robbery charge
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here has acquitted and discharged two Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers and a former officer of gang robbery, without calling for their defence.. Judge Izralizam Sanusi ordered Muhamad Haffiz Mohd Radzi, 35, Mohd Fahmee Mohamad Nor, 43, and former officer Azwan Asli, 40, to be freed on Monday (Aug 4) after finding that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them. In his judgment, he said the court took into account a police report lodged by the victim, who was the first prosecution witness (SP1), stating that the presence of three men at his house was related to an investigation into alleged money laundering offences. ALSO READ: Bukit Aman investigating MACC officers allegedly involved in gang robbery "SP1 claimed he felt threatened because the three accused informed him that he could be detained if he failed to cooperate with the investigation. "However, the court found that this did not amount to wrongful restraint, as the actions were carried out in the capacity of MACC officers," he said. Judge Izralizam said that based on the victim's testimony, he did not feel afraid of the three accused during the incident, as he claimed he had not committed any offence. "There is no evidence that the victim was threatened with a firearm by the three men, even though he alleged that one of them was carrying a firearm in his backpack,' said the judge, adding that the existence of the alleged firearm was not proven during the trial. ALSO READ: Two MACC officers, one other charged with robbery On Dec 13, 2023, the three accused were charged with jointly committing gang robbery against a man named Kun Gao, allegedly robbing him of cash, a silver suitcase, and a black Louis Vuitton bag. The offence was said to have been committed at a condominium on Jalan Ampang at about noon on Dec 10, 2021. The charge, framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and whipping upon conviction. A total of 17 prosecution witnesses were called to testify throughout the trial, which began in November 2024. – Bernama
