Corruption allegation at KLIA: MACC begins full investigation - Saifuddin
PUTRAJAYA - A full investigation into the corruption allegations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has begun.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the matter was confirmed by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki through a short meeting on Wednesday.
"The commitment and good service levels are implemented by most Immigration Department officers; however, there have been allegations of the involvement of officials in corruption, such as in the alleged incident.
"We will give our full cooperation to the MACC to continue the investigation until it is completed to verify whether it happened or not," he said in a Special Press Conference here.
Further, Saifuddin said the Cabinet had earlier ordered the role of a company appointed to manage travellers subject to Entre Refusal Notices (NTL) to be re-examined.
He explained that the company that was appointed in 2015 was responsible for managing the process of deporting travellers subjected to NTL.
"For example, dealing with the return tickets, maybe when asked to cover the ticket cost, it seems like immigration is asking for funds.
"The Cabinet earlier asked the Transport Ministry to view this aspect to determine whether it is a practise," he said.
He explained that from January to June 2023, only 0.07 per cent of NTL were handed out to Chinese travellers, compared to the 592,490 entries recorded.
He said the figures were small compared to the number of Chinese travellers allowed entry to the country.
"NTLs were also given out to travellers from other nations more than to Chinese citizens.
"This gave a clear picture showing we are preventing entry for a reason," he said.
Recently, a viral commotion broke out at KLIA when a minister was accused of storming into the arrival gate to 'save' a tourist from China.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing admitted he was related to the incident and explained his presence in KLIA uncovered the corruption culture among officers at the nation's entry gates.
