KLIA's 'Special' Counter: Syndicate's accomplice received bribes RM500 to RM2,500

PUTRAJAYA - Enforcement officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KLIA1) and Terminal 2 (KLIA2) have allegedly been receiving bribes of between RM500 and RM2,500 from syndicates to facilitate passage through 'special counters'.

Sources told Sinar that the bribery payments given to the enforcement officers part of the syndicate were different based on their nationalities.

"The lowest bribe is around RM500 for Uzbekistani nationals and the highest is RM2,500 for Bangladeshi nationals. There were also different rates for citizens of several other countries such as Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and Yemen," the source said.

It was also noted that to avoid detection of their communications, the enforcement officers and the syndicate used several special code names such as school boy, salak, limau, laici, karpet, kicap, roti canai, junta and ayam.

"This refers to the nationalities of the foreign groups who will enter the country through the pre-arranged special counters," the source said.

Additionally, they use the code 'lembu' to refer to the bribe payments received from the syndicate.

Meanwhile, the source said the code name 'durian' refers to the payment to the enforcement officers at KLIA1 and KLIA2 who will facilitate the release of the foreign groups.

Based on the modus operandi, enforcement officers involved at both terminals receive a list of names and passport pictures of the arriving foreign groups via WhatsApp from the syndicate.

"Upon arrival, these foreign groups are directed to specific counters for entry clearance and are given either a 30-day stay permit or an open permit to stay for seven days," the source said.

The foreign groups were then allowed to leave and are picked up by agents from the syndicate to be taken to their respective destinations.

"Once the entry process for these foreign groups is completed, the syndicate makes the bribe payment either in cash or via bank transfer to the involved enforcement officers' accounts or to accounts held by proxies or certain companies within one to two days," the source said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Tan Sri Azam Baki, confirmed that operations were ongoing at KLIA1 and KLIA2 concerning the issue of foreign entry through the 'counter setting' or special counter route and does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.

"MACC is tracking down other involved enforcement officers and many more are expected to be called in for questioning. However, the foreign nationals who received services through this modus operandi have already disappeared and are hard to trace.

"This is what leads to the increase in the influx of workers without permits in the country. They are not coming for tourism but to seek employment without going through the proper permit process," he said.