2 KLIA COUNTER STAFF HELD
This is to help probe into smuggling of Bangladeshis via airport, says Zahid
TWO Immigration Department personnel have been detained to assist investigations into the smuggling of Bangladeshis via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, when confirming this, said the two were not high-ranking or senior officers, but “those tending counters” at the airport.
A probe was ongoing and more were expected to be uncovered, he said after a working visit here where he was briefed on Sabah’s security developments.
“I have directed Immigration directorgeneral (Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali) to tighten monitoring (of human smuggling) at checkpoints, especially at KLIA.
“We will replace the group suspected to be involved, with others (officers)... At the same time, we will add more Immigration officers from other offices to KLIA (operations).”
An exclusive report by Harian Metro on Dec 7 revealed syndicates, controlled by Bangladeshis, made RM5.2 million annually from smuggling their countrymen through KLIA.
Earlier, Zahid said the closed-door briefing involving the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and other authorities, like the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), was a follow up to the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) advisory board meeting, which was last held in September.
He said the proposed pilot group of 500 Rela members to be absorbed as secondliners to safeguard Esszone would be operational next month.
“We are mobilising them now and operations are expected (to take place) on Jan 1.”
During the last Esszone advisory board meeting at Esscom’s headquarters, Zahid revealed plans to engage more than 6,000 Rela members from the 10 districts under Esszone for this purpose, but said retraining was needed to better equip them.
“The Federal Government has approved a special allocation for Rela, not only to obtain uniforms, equipment and other assets, but also in terms of operational expenditure for Rela members,” Zahid said.
He said the government planned to continue deploying security forces under Esscom to maintain safety at resorts in the area.
He said a huge celebration would be planned in Lahad Datu on March 5 to commemorate Esscom’s five-year anniversary.
“It is also to remind everyone that ensuring security is the government’s priority.”