Buck up or ship out, Zahid warns myIMMs vendors
PUTRAJAYA: The government will not hesitate to cancel the Malaysian Immigration System (myIMMs) vendor contracts if the services provided failed to meet the standards set, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the Immigration Department (JIM) was not satisfied with the services provided and would give a time frame for the vendors concerned to fix the biometric system.
“We will look at the agreement that has been signed and we will abide to the time stipulated in the agreement.
“I do not think we can extend the time frame for them to fix the myIMMs because what is important is the service provided to the people and tourists entering our country,” he told reporters after attending the Immigration Day Celebrations here yesterday.
Even though the full payment had been made by JIM for the system, there are clauses in the agreement concerned that allowed the government to impose penalties on the vendors involved if their services were unsatisfactory, he said.
“JIM is aware of the problems faced and tries to improve from time to time but we have reached a stage of being pushed up against the wall and we cannot accept their service anymore,” he said.
The Auditor General’s Report 2015 Series 2 on Nov 21 admonished the sub-standard myIMMs services which incurred an expenditure of RM29.9 million in aspects of planning, implementation and monitoring which could affect the attaining of its objective.
The media also reported that myIMMs, which was developed to support JIM main operations, were frequently disrupted believed to be, among others, caused by foreigners easily entering the country’s check points at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport ( KLIA) and klia2.
Commenting on the Home Ministry’s plans to implement the Advance Passengers Screening System (APSS) to screen all foreigners in efforts to prevent the entry of terrorists into Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid said the ministry was still awaiting the Letter of Acceptance.
“The APSS has been finalised but has yet to be implemented, we are waiting for the LOA to be released and we hope to announce it soon,” he added. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Gen Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim was yesterday officially installed as Malaysia’s 26th Army Chief.
He was previously serving as Army Field Commander West for about six years after taking over from Gen Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, 59, who was appointed 19th Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Chief.
The ceremony marking the handing- over of the baton of command was held at Dataran Panglima Tentera Darat in the Sungai Besi Camp here.
Zulkiple, 57, began his service in the Army on April 7, 1978, after completing his studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.
With more than 38 years’ experience under his belt, he is a graduate of the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Army Command and Staff College, Australia.
He also holds a Master of Science ( Management) from Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Zulkiple previously held several key positions in the ATM, among them, as military adviser to the Defence Ministry in 1998; Infantry director ( 2001) and the ATM Department of Veterans’ Affairs director-general (2005).
When met by Bernama, Zulkiple said professionalism among army personnel would be among the main issues he would emphasise on.
“I hold this trust with full integrity in discharging my duties and responsibilities,” he added.
Also present at the ceremony were Army Deputy Chief Lt Gen Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi, Army Field Commander West Lt Gen Datuk Azizan Md Delin and Army Field Commander East Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar. — Bernama
I do not think we can extend the time frame for them to fix the myIMMs because what is important is the service provided to the people and tourists entering our country. Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister