'Probe discrepancies in immigration registration system'

DAP lawmaker Steven Sim raised concerns over the National Foreigners Enforcement and Registration System (NERS), following reports that the Malaysian Immigration System (myIMMs) had been sabotaged.

The Bukit Mertajam MP said last month, over 100 people within the Immigration Department were implicated for sabotaging the computerised immigration management system to "facilitate various violations of immigration laws".

"The authorities have so far unable to estimate how many people have illegally gained entry through this insider syndicate.

"The possibility of terrorists coming into Malaysia through this scheme is also not ruled out.

"However, the discovery of myIMMS sabotage may only be tip of the iceberg," Sim said in a statement today.

He had previously highlighted his concerns with NERS in October 2014, saying it had a "worrying discrepancy".

NERS Sdn Bhd was given a 12-year concession from June 2011 to record and monitor the immigration of foreigners to Malaysia as well as to issue the Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) (PLKS), he said.

For each PLKS issued, he added, the government pays NERS a fee of RM50.

But Sim said he discovered a huge discrepancy in the amount paid to NERS versus the number of PLKS issued, based on checks of the federal estimates and the federal government's financial statements.

"In 2013, 1,386,591 PLKS were issued; thus based on the contractual fee, the government had to pay RM69.3 million to NERS that year.

"However, a counter check with the federal government’s financial statement for 2013 revealed that the government has paid NERS a sum of RM105.2 million," he said.

He said this meant either the government had overpaid NERS by RM35.9 million, or the immigration department had failed to record 718,000 migrants who were let into the country and issued PLKS.

He said he was unaware if there were discrepancies in the other years since NERS was awarded the contract, as the government had ignored his requests for clarification since 2014.

"In light of the latest revelation on the insider syndicate compromising the MyIMMS, I urge the government, especially the Royal Malaysian Police, to take serious actions to investigate and give an answer on this matter," he said. - Mkini