New immigration DG to focus on tackling abuse of power among staff

 

Newly appointed immigration director-general Ruslin Jusoh said he will focus on integrity issues among the staff to overcome abuse of power in the department.

Speaking at his first media conference yesterday after his appointment on March 22, Ruslin said he will also stress the need for each officer to adhere to the rules and law, especially those assigned to the enforcement division.

“It would not be fair for me to point fingers at all the Immigration officers when it is just a fraction of them whom I consider ‘naughty’.

“But if there is a clear act of refusal to obey orders, I will not hesitate to take stern action not only against the rank and file but also the top management,” he added.

Smuggling case

Ruslin said the department was giving its full cooperation to the MACC in connection with the investigation of its enforcement officers suspected of involvement in a smuggling syndicate of foreign migrants from the Philippines to the peninsula.

He said the department will not compromise if the officers concerned are found guilty and will leave it to the MACC to investigate.

“We will take stern action including dismissal if they are found guilty after going through the due process of law,” he added.

The media had earlier reported that five immigration officers were among nine individuals remanded for six days to assist in the investigation of a syndicate to smuggle undocumented migrants through the Tawau Airport in Sabah.

They were alleged to have accepted bribes between RM100 and RM3,000 for every undocumented migrant from the syndicate as an inducement to release the migrants using someone else's MyKad.

- Bernama