Immigration dept confirms EAIC probing alleged ‘integrity violations’

 

Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban said the department would not compromise if any officer is proven to be involved in misconduct. (Immigration Dept Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The immigration department has confirmed that the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) is probing some of its officers for allegedly allowing foreigners to enter the country under the pretence of obtaining medical treatment.

In a statement, immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban said EAIC had visited the department’s headquarters in Putrajaya to investigate allegations of 

integrity violations

 committed by its officers.

The immigration department will not compromise if any officer is proven to be involved in misconduct,

 said Zakaria.

Strict action will be taken regardless of rank or position,

 he said, adding that the department would fully cooperate with EAIC’s investigation.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that several immigration department officers were being investigated for their suspected involvement in a 

medical visa

 syndicate.

A foreign agent said the syndicate played a role in more than 20,000 medical visas granted in one state last year.

The syndicate allegedly helped foreigners enter the country on medical visas, after which they would 

disappear

 for several years to work illegally.

In his statement, Zakaria said the department is taking a serious view of the allegations and remains committed to ensuring that its officers are not involved in approving such visas.

This is in line with the department’s primary focus of improving good governance, discipline, and integrity,

 he said.

Zakaria added that the department has to work on restoring its image and reputation so that it can be respected once again.

The EAIC investigation comes on the back of a separate probe into the immigration department by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Last month, MACC listed 11 main weaknesses involving the immigration department, which it said provided opportunities for syndicates to bring in foreigners using the 

counter setting

 method.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki was reported to have said a senior immigration officer, believed to be the mastermind behind the 

counter setting

 operations, was among 60 individuals arrested on Sept 5.

The officers are believed to have received bribes from syndicate agents to arrange for special counters to release foreigners without going through proper checks at the airports.

Set up in 2011, the EAIC is a federal statutory body tasked with investigating and conducting hearings into complaints against some 20 enforcement agencies.

Earlier this year, EAIC said most of the 529 complaints it received last year were related to the immigration department.

In a report posted on its website in January, EAIC said the immigration department received 49 complaints in 2023, followed by the road transport department (27), customs department (17), and the fisheries department (14). - FMT