Counter-setting Scandal: 26 Enforcement Officers Dismissed Last Year – Home Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- A total of 26 enforcement officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were dismissed last year for their involvement in the counter setting syndicate, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that eight more individuals were also terminated in 2023.

He said that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had handled 50 cases of phantom travellers, with two cases currently in the process of being charged in court, while the remaining cases are at various stages, including prosecution, internal investigations, and the preparation of governance investigation papers.

“All the actions mentioned are measures that have already been taken, not empty words, regardless of who is involved (in corruption). We have zero tolerance for this deplorable act.

“Therefore, the government’s efforts and commitment to fighting corruption should not be questioned,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) on the action against counter-setting cases in KLIA during the question-and-answer session today.

Counter setting refers to a corrupt practice involving the manipulation of immigration counters to facilitate the illegal entry or exit of individuals.

-- BERNAMA

Counter-setting Scandal: 26 Enforcement - 2

In response to a question from Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya) on the ministry’s efforts to tackle the issue, Saifuddin Nasution said other intervention measures implemented include the digitalisation of services, particularly the traveller entry process at all entry points.

According to him, the government is expanding the auto gate system to reduce human interaction, where entry and exit screenings of travellers will be carried out solely through digital means, eliminating discretionary powers of officers.

He said the ministry plans to install 635 auto gates at 123 entry points under the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency.

“Beginning December, the system will be installed at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQ) Complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building in Johor, KLIA Terminals 1 and 2, Kuching International Airport in Sarawak, Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah and Penang International Airport.

“We will roll out the system fully in March 2028. The auto gate system uses biometric face recognition, iris and fingerprint scanning, which will help address issues related to the manipulation of traveller entry,” he said.

Saifuddin Nasution said the ministry is also conducting a proof of concept for the use of body cameras by enforcement officers stationed at entry points, particularly at KLIA, adding that the procurement of 614 units of the body cameras is scheduled for next month.

“Additionally, by the end of this year, we will implement the Advanced Passenger Screening System, which has two components, including the Advanced Passenger Information involving 10 out of the 56 airlines currently operating. With this system, information on travellers arriving in the country can be obtained, even before they set foot on Malaysian soil.

“Secondly, we conduct awareness programmes and activity reinforcement training based on the Immigration Anti-Corruption Plan with strategic collaboration with the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), police and other agencies. To date, we have carried out 185 such courses,” he added.

-- BERNAMA