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New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
'Flying passport' ruse: Sacking offenders is the only way [WATCH]
JOHOR BARU: The decades-old "flying passport" racket at the Johor-Singapore land checkpoints continues to thrive — not due to a lack of technology or protocols - but because rogue officers caught red-handed are quietly transferred instead of sacked. An immigration source told the New Straits Times that the ruse, first documented as far back as 1996, has become entrenched within the system, aided by weak disciplinary mechanisms and inter-agency silence. "It's an open secret. Officers caught facilitating ghost entries are just moved to another counter, or another state. No termination, no prosecution, just relocation," the source said. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain recently defended the transfer of officers under corruption probe, saying it is not a cover-up but a procedural step required under civil service rules. He said he was obligated to address growing public concern over why some officers implicated in misconduct are transferred rather than dismissed, as disciplinary action in the civil service must follow strict procedures. "When an officer is arrested, the public often thinks we are trying to sidestep the issue by moving them elsewhere. But that is not the case. Transferring them is the first and immediate step we can take under current rules," Shuhaily had said. He added that officers must be given a chance to defend themselves under civil service regulations, and any termination of employment involves multiple levels of scrutiny. Public Service Department regulations make it difficult to dismiss errant officers. The result? A revolving door of misconduct. "This breeds impunity. These officers know that even if they're caught, the worst they'll face is a transfer. And the syndicates know it too," the source added. The source then pointed out to a row of eateries and stores just a stone's throw from the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ). "These are the drop points for flying passports. That's where it happens. The handovers. "Just walk into some of these cafes, you'll see nothing, but things are in motion. These places don't just serve food," said the source familiar with the zone. The cost of a passport stamp, once RM200, has now reached RM1,800, depending on the urgency and the number of clearances required. Despite biometric systems, closed-circuit television (CCTV), and electronic logs, officers still override protocols with ease, citing 'system down' or 'manual exception'. The security expert interviewed yesterday said the issue is no longer technical — it's institutional. "We don't need more systems. We need consequence. If not even one officer has been publicly dismissed for this racket, what message does that send?" The insider also warned that internal audits often fail to detect biometric mismatches, and post-clearance reviews rarely result in disciplinary action unless the public raise complaints. Proposed reforms have long been discussed, including permanent blacklists of officers implicated in unauthorised clearances; independent digital audit teams not tied to internal command; AI-driven biometric entry verification with ghost-detection alerts; and real-time supervision with multi-factor clearance triggers. Yet, none have been fully implemented. "Until someone in power draws a line and enforces real accountability, not just shuffling the deck, the ' flying passport ' will keep flying," the source said.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Report Pending On Officers Accused In ‘Flying Passport' Bribery Case
KULIM, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry is still awaiting a full report on the investigation into enforcement officers suspected of abetting a 'flying passport' syndicate while on duty at the country's border checkpoints. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry will obtain a report from Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain. 'Let him (Shuhaily) handle it first… I believe we have placed the right person in the right position,' he told reporters after officiating the 53rd anniversary celebration of the People's Volunteer Corps (RELA) at Dataran Kulim here today. Yesterday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested four enforcement officers suspected of receiving bribes of about RM3,000 for facilitating the 'flying passport' activity at the motorcycle entry zone checkpoint at the Johor-Singapore border. Two of them were detained by AKPS' Compliance Unit during an inspection at the counter yesterday, while two other officers were arrested for allegedly colluding in the operation. Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said RELA members must equip themselves with new skills and enhance training to expand the scope of their functions. He stressed the need for a shift in RELA's core duties from the usual roles of traffic control, disaster response and managing public events. 'This shift aims to elevate RELA's role to include responsibilities in sensitive areas such as border control. 'Of course, RELA will not act alone. Its purpose is to complement and support existing enforcement agencies. The ministry sees potential for RELA to contribute further,' he said.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘Not to Land': 198 foreigners barred at KLIA over shady travel plans
SEPANG, July 25 — A total of 198 foreign nationals were denied entry at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 for failing to meet immigration requirements, including insufficient funds, lack of accommodation bookings and unclear travel purposes. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said those barred entry will be deported under the 'Not to Land' (NTL) procedure, with airlines responsible for returning them to their countries of origin. Of the total, 128 were intercepted at Terminal 1, comprising 123 Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis, two Indonesians, and one Syrian. The remaining 70 at Terminal 2 included 51 Indonesians, 13 Indians, four Pakistanis, and two Vietnamese nationals. Shuhaily also revealed possible syndicate involvement, following the discovery of photos of AKPS officers on the phones of several detainees, believed to be used to help others evade enforcement. 'These images were likely shared by individuals previously deported. It's a sign that syndicates are adapting to enforcement actions,' he said. He warned that operations will continue to ensure Malaysia is not used as a transit hub for illegal entry. — Bernama
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
198 foreigners denied entry at KLIA for failing immigration checks
SEPANG: A total of 198 foreign nationals were denied entry at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 for failing to meet immigration requirements, including insufficient funds, lack of accommodation bookings, and unclear travel purposes. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said those barred entry will be deported under the 'Not to Land' (NTL) procedure, with airlines responsible for returning them to their countries of origin. Of the total, 128 were intercepted at Terminal 1, comprising 123 Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis, two Indonesians, and one Syrian. The remaining 70 at Terminal 2 included 51 Indonesians, 13 Indians, four Pakistanis, and two Vietnamese nationals. Shuhaily also revealed possible syndicate involvement, following the discovery of photos of AKPS officers on the phones of several detainees, believed to be used to help others evade enforcement. 'These images were likely shared by individuals previously deported. It's a sign that syndicates are adapting to enforcement actions,' he said. He warned that operations will continue to ensure Malaysia is not used as a transit hub for illegal entry. - Bernama
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
AKPS tightens officer screening to curb counter setting at borders
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) is intensifying measures to combat 'counter setting' activities at the country's entry points by implementing stricter personnel screening and policy reforms. Director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain stated that the agency is formulating a new policy to ensure only officers with clean disciplinary records are stationed at border posts. 'As a new agency involving personnel from Immigration, Customs, and other departments, we've inherited legacy issues. We aim to break that cycle through proper screening,' he told reporters. Counter setting, a term describing illicit dealings at immigration counters, has been a persistent issue. Shuhaily emphasized that policy support and internal cooperation are crucial in addressing the problem. In a related case, an immigration officer in his early 30s was arrested after being found with nearly RM8,000 in cash and three mobile phones, allegedly violating internal directives. The officer, with only four years of service, has been handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Selangor and is being investigated under Section 17A of the MACC Act. 'This is someone with 30 years of service ahead. Unfortunately, the lack of a swift mechanism to terminate such officers remains a major challenge,' Shuhaily said. He also addressed public misconceptions about disciplinary procedures, clarifying that corrupt officers cannot simply be transferred but must undergo due process. Shuhaily has proposed a more efficient mechanism to remove corrupt public servants but noted that legal reviews with the Attorney General's Chambers and Public Services Department are necessary. - Bernama
