Crackdown in Malaysia sees widespread arrests, including 6 airport officials who took bribes in exchange for foreigners’ illegal entry

SINGAPORE: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has carried out major operations recently, resulting in dozens of arrests and the seizure of around RM3.3 million (S$1 million).

The crackdown by Selangor MACC was carried out from Sep 9 to 11 and was aimed at seizing assets that officials received through corruption, according to a report in the Malay Mail. These assets include a house, land, a number of luxury vehicles, 75 gold pieces worth around RM400,000 (S$100,000), 20 designer timepieces worth around RM100,000 (S$30,385), purses, and RM20,000 (S$6,077) in cash. A total of 70 bank accounts have also been frozen by MACC.

Corruption at ports of entry

Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, the deputy chief commissioner for operations of MACC, said in a statement posted on the organisation’s TikTok account, that five of the people arrested are Immigration Department officials.

https://www.tiktok.com/@sprm.malaysia/video/7549808751369325831

The crackdown, called Op Rentas by the MACC, concentrated on counter-setting syndicates that allowed foreign nationals to enter Malaysia without undergoing proper immigration procedures. In exchange, officials involved received bribes. Counter-setting sends foreigners to designated or predetermined lanes at Immigration entry points without subjecting them to proper inspection.

According to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, officers who joined the syndicate stood to earn as much as RM50,000 (S$15,200) each month in bribes, with each foreigner paying between RM1,800 (S$547) and RM2,500 (S$760). The payments were made in cash or via mule accounts.

Op Rentas

The crackdown has seen 30 people arrested in Selangor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Negri Sembilan. This includes 18 enforcement officers attached to the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA), reported The New Straits Times. The others arrested were company owners, managers, and civilians.

MCBA director-general Datuk Seri Shuhaily Mohd Zain said that the arrested officers were working at Terminal 1 and 2 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

The report added that six of the airport officials who were arrested possessed about 3.2 kg of gold and jewellery worth RM2 million (S$608,000). Five of the officials are Immigration Department officers who manned immigration counters at the airport.

The persons arrested face 20 years in jail and a fine that's not less than 10 times the value of the bribe or RM1 million (S$304,000), whichever is higher. /TISG

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