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New Straits Times

Syndicates use quiet Kelantan border to sneak in foreign workers

KOTA BARU: The "flying passport" ruse persists in Kelantan, but on a smaller scale, an Immigration source said. Despite being separated from Thailand by the shallow Sungai Golok, the source said the ruse was detected only at one of the three checkpoints in the state. Kelantan has three entry points along the Thai border: Rantau Panjang, Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat and Bukit Bunga in Tanah Merah. "However, two of these checkpoints, Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubor, are always busy with cross-border trade and travel. "They are less likely to be used by syndicate members due to the high traffic volume and enforcement presence. "Instead, syndicate members opt for the Bukit Bunga Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex, which is located in a quieter area and receives less scrutiny." The source said local agents were usually the facilitators of the syndicate, working with Thais employed in Malaysia, particularly in eateries and restaurants. "Thais working in Malaysia engage local agents. "These agents deliver the workers' passports to Immigration officers and have them stamped without the passport holders being present. "Some of these officers are believed to have been cooperating with the agents for years." While the scale of the "flying passport" ruse in Kelantan may not rival that of Johor or other border states, enforcement sources said it remained a serious breach of Immigration protocols and national security. Kelantan Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director Azmin Yusoff said no reports had been received about border enforcement officers' involvement in the ruse. "We, however, urge members of the public to come forward with information." Azmin, however, said three Immigration officers were detained by the state MACC in the first six months of this year, including those assigned to the Kelantan-Thailand border. He said the three were among the 21 enforcement officers arrested since 2022 for soliciting and receiving bribes.