Don't just arrest migrants, investigate those who let them in – MCW urges Malaysian authorities

Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) and the Immigration Department face renewed calls to intensify investigations into alleged "counter setting" practices at the nation's international entry points. These practices are reportedly creating loopholes that allow undocumented migrants to enter the country illegally.

Jais Abdul Karim, President of Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW), emphasized that these allegations, stemming from internal enforcement sources with firsthand knowledge, cannot be dismissed lightly. He stressed the need for these claims to be professionally verified or refuted by the authorities. MCW questions the effectiveness of large-scale operations targeting undocumented migrants if the alleged leakages at the country's own entry points remain unaddressed at their root.

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Don't just arrest the undocumented migrants who have already slipped through. Investigate who is letting them through.

"Don't just arrest the undocumented migrants who have already slipped through. Investigate who is letting them through," Jais urged. He further elaborated that if foreigners enter as tourists but subsequently overstay and work illegally, authorities must scrutinize their entire entry process. This includes verifying if entry point inspections followed procedures, identifying any agents or syndicates involved, and probing the potential complicity of officers receiving bribes.

MCW is advocating for the SPRM to conduct a forensic audit based on data, cross-referencing foreign entry records, inspection counters used, officers on duty, approval durations, CCTV footage, and travel patterns. They suggest that any recurring unusual patterns should serve as initial indicators for further investigation. The organization also called for secure channels for honest officials with internal information to come forward without fear. MCW clarified that they are not accusing the entire Immigration Department but stressed the importance of decisive action against corrupt individuals to protect the integrity of the majority of honest officers. They concluded that corruption at the nation's entry points is not merely individual misconduct but a betrayal of national security and sovereignty, urging that the corruption facilitating entry must be stopped first.

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Corruption at the entry points of the country is not just individual misconduct, but a betrayal of the trust of national security and sovereignty.