HOME Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he will reach out to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki with the name of the National Registration Department (JPN) officer accused of seeking a bribe from a citizenship application.
“I have informed Azam and I will pass the information on so that the MACC can investigate,” Saifuddin said during a post-Cabinet meeting press conference in Putrajaya today (July 5).
Saifuddin explained that the move came following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement on Monday (July 3) that a graft case involving the JPN and citizenship approvals had been brought to his attention.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general further revealed that he had checked the name of the officer with JPN, which confirmed his identity and that he is an official there.
He also said the officer involved demanded “large sums of money” but did not go into further detail.
Saifuddin emphasised that his ministry is committed to combating abuses of power and corruption in all departments within its control, and that despite the small proportion of civil workers involved in wrongdoing, they must be prevented.
On Monday (July 3) Anwar said that he was informed of payment being asked for documents from JPN, including citizenship during the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly.
“I want to share this information. Yesterday (Sunday July 2), I received information about a matter that may still be under investigation.
“We want to facilitate those eligible to obtain status, including citizenship. But to get the certificate, it is said that payments were imposed,” he had said.
In separate news, Saifuddin said policemen fluent in different languages will be stationed at KL International Airport (KLIA) in the event of language and communication issues between passengers and authorities.
The Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP further stated the officers, who can communicate in Mandarin, Tamil, English and Arabic, would be assigned soon.
“This is part of the improvements that we have planned for better service and to overcome communication issues,” he remarked.
Saifuddin said the recent tourist incident at KLIA which took place last Thursday (June 29) was discussed at today’s Cabinet meeting, adding that the matter is viewed seriously.
According to Saifuddin, a senior Immigration Department officer of Grade 41 or higher will from this point on make the decision on whether an inbound travellers should be denied entrance and would have the authority to issue a “Not To Land” (NTL) order to travellers.
Previously, Grade 29 officers stationed at airports and other entry points had the authority to make such decisions.
Saifuddin said between January and June, a total of 592,490 tourists from China had entered Malaysia and 423 out of the numbers were issued NTL orders.
“Despite the recent incident, the Cabinet acknowledged the commitment, cooperation and good discipline among the majority of Immigration officers at the airport.
“If not for their commitment, there would have been problems managing the large number of arrivals,” the incumbent Pantai Jerejak assemblyman stressed.
Last Thursday (June 29), BebasNews reported that a minister had barged into the international arrivals hall to protect a Chinese national who had been allegedly detained at KLIA since June 28 after arriving in the country.
To clarify what had happened, Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing alleged that he had to personally intervene in order to help an employee of a Chinese media company who was purportedly detained by Immigration police at KLIA upon her arrival from Shenzen.
The woman stated that despite having valid travel documents, she was denied entry and was ordered to pay several thousand ringgit if she wished to enter.
The MACC had recorded statements from Tiong, the woman and a witness, as well as four Immigration officers stationed at KLIA over the incident. – July 5, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
