THE Malaysian Immigration Department has dismissed 20 officers over their involvement in a long-running corruption racket at national entry points, with a further 227 officers currently under investigation in connection with the same scandal.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban confirmed that the dismissals followed court convictions and departmental investigations which found the officers guilty of misconduct.
“These dismissals are separate from several management-level officers found guilty of similar offences, whose cases have since been referred to the Public Service Department for further action,” New Straits Times cited him saying.
The officers implicated were previously stationed at some of Malaysia’s busiest border points, including Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Penang, Bukit Kayu Hitam, and the Sultan Iskandar Building in Johor.
According to Zakaria, the disciplinary crackdown reflects the department’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption. In 2024, a total of 254 disciplinary cases involving immigration staff were concluded, with 199 more resolved so far this year. An additional 74 cases, some dating back to 2022, remain under active review.
“Action has been taken, including the heaviest penalty of dismissal, against those involved in misconduct, including the counter-setting syndicate. This proves that we will not compromise on any misconduct that undermines the integrity and transparency of immigration services,” he said.
The ‘counter-setting’ practice reportedly dates back to 2017 and involves officers manipulating immigration counters to extract illicit payments. Investigators believe it operated much like a cartel, with senior officers coercing or isolating newcomers who refused to cooperate.
The scandal was uncovered following an internal investigation, with current probes now being carried out in coordination with the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Zakaria acknowledged that disciplinary proceedings can be lengthy due to the complexity of gathering sufficient evidence. “That is why, during investigations, some officers are reassigned, demoted, have their salaries frozen, or are suspended from duty,” he said.
In response to the scandal, the department has introduced new measures aimed at enhancing internal accountability. Since last year, all immigration officers in critical roles — including those at border checkpoints and foreign worker counters — must declare their assets annually.
“For the first year of implementing this rule, all involved staff have complied with the requirement,” said Zakaria.
He also noted that the Immigration Department has the highest number of MACC officers embedded within any enforcement agency in the country. Ten MACC personnel have been seconded to the department to enhance internal oversight.
“The placement of these MACC officers aims to further strengthen the internal monitoring system and improve the early detection of any form of misconduct or abuse of power,” he said.
Further disciplinary actions are expected as investigations widen, with authorities determined to dismantle the illicit network and restore public confidence in Malaysia’s immigration enforcement. – September 19, 2025
