KLIA IMMIGRATION OFFICERS

They allegedly helped to smuggle Bangladeshis into the country

FAIRUZ MOHD SHAHAR PUTRAJAYA news@nst.com.my

THE Immigration department has detained officers who allegedly helped Bangladeshis to enter the country illegally through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Its director-general, Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali, did not reveal details of the arrests, but stressed the officers would face stern action, including being suspended or sacked if they were found guilty.

“We have arrested our officers in KLIA for allegedly allowing foreigners, especially Bangladeshis, to be smuggled into the country through the airport. They are being held at the Immigration Department’s headquarters in Putrajaya for further investigation.

“We have taken internal action against our people, but we do not want to reveal specific details,” he said.

“If there is evidence that they failed to practise integrity while on duty, we will take stern action, including terminating them, depending on how far they were involved in this activity,” he said after attending the department’s monthly assembly, here.

“I do not deny that some of our officers were involved in this unscrupulous activity.

“There are some bad apples, but they are not the majority.”

Mustafar said he had spoken with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun and would share information on the issue.

He said the department had sent task force to Dhaka on Sunday to probe into the case.

“The mastermind in Bangladesh must have earned a lot from this smuggling activity, so we have sent a task force to conduct investigations.

“We need to carry out a thorough investigation in KLIA and collaborate with the police,” he said.

Harian Metro on Thursday revealed that illegal workers from Bangladesh were being smuggled into the country through KLIA on a daily basis, and it was masterminded by four big syndicates in Dhaka.

It is believed that the syndicates earn RM5.2 million a year by charging between RM15,000 and RM20,000 per person, and bribing the authorities such as officers from the Immigration Department and the Malaysian Embassy in Dhaka.

On another matter, Mustafar said the department was prepared for higher traffic flow from Jan 1 when applications for foreign maid permits can be done online.

On the department’s rehiring programme, Mustafar said nearly 600,000 illegal immigrants had signed up for it, and 150,000 had completed the process.

He reminded employers and foreign workers to quickly register for the programme before Dec 31 as the department would not extend the deadline.

He said those who had registered for the Enforcement Card or E-Card programme, which ended on June 30, would have until Feb 15 to register for the rehiring programme.