SECURITY BREACH
THE Home Ministry promises tough action against errant officers after MACC video shows blatant smuggling, corruption at the Padang Besar-Thailand border.
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday dropped a bombshell when for the first time it made public video evidence of corruption involving the nation’s enforcement taking place, some even in broad daylight.
The video evidence involved corrupt practices by the nation’s border enforcement officers at the country’s northern boundary, which has been taking place since 2017, allowing for smuggling activities to flourish.
MACC revealed this in a 15- minute video at a press conference held on the issue, here.
Its chief commissioner, Latheefa Koya, said MACC had clear evidence of smuggling activities and security breach and lapses at the Thai border in Padang Besar, as well as that taking place at the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) in Perlis bordering Thailand.
She said the state’s enforcement officers had allowed the culprits to smuggle goods, such as ketum leaves, fertilisers and other subsidised items such as flour, cooking oil, onions, petrol and diesel, out across the border,
“MACC has had a breakthrough in finding evidence of corruption, smuggling and breach of security taking place at the Thai border in Padang Besar.
“We had acquired video evidence of corruption (taking place) from 2017 until May this year. This has been going on for a long time,” she said.
Latheefa said MACC made the revelation as a warning to enforcement officers involved in corrupt activities.
“Because of this breakthrough, we now know how easy it is to breach our country’s border security because of corruption.
“The perpetrators in the video seemed oblivious and were comfortable as if they have been doing it for a long time. The reason for this revelation is to tell the errant officers that they are being watched,” she added.
She said although the smuggling of ketum leaves and other goods might not seem to be a big deal, the issue of corruption and breach in border security could lead to serious matters, such as smuggling of drugs, exotic animals and human trafficking, such as that in Wang Kelian.
Latheefa said the evidence had been submitted to InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador to identify the officers and for action to be taken against them.
“We had submitted thousands of videos showing smuggling activities to the police. They should take measures to improve their standard operating procedure (SOP) to curb corruption activities from taking among border enforcement officers.
“Apart from the police, we are working with the National Security Council, Immigration and Customs departments.”
Asked if MACC was looking at the nation’s other border areas, Latheefa said the commission was looking at possible graft taking place at the Bukit Kayu Hitam and Kelantan borders as well.
MACC Audio Video Forensics Division chief Badri Azni, in explaining the video, said the smuggling activities were rampant during the change of shift of officers between 6am and 9am.
“We had also seen in the video that smuggling activities were happening blatantly during the day.
“The perpetrators were seen damaging border gates to smuggle goods. Enforcement patrol vehicles, which passed those areas, did not stop to check the smuggling activities.”
At the CIQ, Badri said, although goods were being smuggled openly, officers there had been turning a blind eye on them.
“We caught on camera officers watching (videos) and playing with their handphones and not carrying out their duty.”