Transfers a temporary measure
Immigration DG says moving officers from KLIA is to facilitate investigation in human trafficking, stresses not all are suspects
MIRI: The transfer of immigration officers, suspected of involvement in the smuggling in of Bangladeshis by syndicates at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), is a temporary move to facilitate investigations.
This was disclosed by Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali at a press conference here yesterday.
“When we transfer those suspected, it’s a temporary measure. Action will be taken against them once we have sufficient evidence.
“We do not believe in just transferring them as this will only ‘transfer’ the problem to another place,” he said when asked about the case in which two immigration officers in KLIA were arrested in connection with the smuggling of Bangladeshis by syndicates.
A few other officers suspected of having a hand in the case have been transferred while investigations are on.
The suspects are part of the 1,500 immigration officers transferred by the department. Of that, 40 per cent or 600 of the officers have been transferred to a different location.
“I want to stress here that not all the 40 per cent are suspects - only a few. There rest are being transferred on routine job rotation. It’s unfair to say that all of them are being transferred because of this case.
“The important thing is we want to make sure such cases do not recur by reviewing their
The important thing is we want to make sure such cases do not recur by reviewing their working system as well as working with other agencies; and looking at aspects of law, administration and better ways of managing our counters. — Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali, Immigration Department Director-General
working system as well as working with other agencies; and looking at aspects of law, administration and better ways of managing our counters,” he said.
All immigration counters are equipped with CCTV to monitor the officers and the recording can be used as proof when such incidents occur.
Mustafar said the job rotation involving 1,500 immigration staff is a normal procedure among high risk departments and agencies.
“This is not the first time we transfer our officers. When there are issues of smuggling in foreign nationals, we take action and arrest those involved - not only within our department but also outside, particularly foreigners who smuggle their countrymen into our country, and try to bribe our officers.
“We will not compromise when it comes to our nation’s safety and protecting our sovereignty. This is not our first arrest,” he pointed out, adding that his agency had been working with the police for quite some time to identify those involved.
“I want to remind and warn all business operators and plantation owners not to employ illegal immigrants. They must go through the proper procedure including health screening the workers. If not, they (business operators and plantation owners) are the traitors of our country,” he said.
Mustafar said since Ops Ikar ended on June 30 this year, a total of 23,000 illegal immigrants and 520 employers have been detained by the Immigration Department nationwide.
“We have prosecuted the illegal immigrants and their employers, and we have sent some of the employers to jail,” he said.
The press conference was held during Immigration Department’s CSR programme held at its detention depot in Bekenu.
Present were Sarawak Immigration director Ken Leben and head of immigration Miri, Mohamad Osman.