Probe into illegal worker smuggling disrupted by news report, says IGP

KUALA LUMPUR: Police investigations into syndicates that smuggle illegal workers from Bangladesh into the country via KL International Airport (KLIA) have been jeopardised following a report in a local Malay daily today, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
He said this after the Malay daily had done an investigative story where it reported four major syndicates in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, were involved in the trafficking of these workers.
"Now that the information is leaked to the public, our investigations are disrupted," Fuzi said at a press conference after the launch of the "Tabung Prihatin Pengaman" at Pulapol here today.
He added that the police are in contact with the immigration and customs regarding the issue.
The daily reported that the syndicates reportedly earn a profit of RM5.2 million a year by charging between RM15,000 and RM20,000 per person including bribe money to several authorities, especially members and officers of the Immigration Department and the Malaysian Embassy in Dhaka to smuggle these illegals into the country.
Meanwhile, details from the Hong Kong police regarding six Malaysians who were arrested for attempting to carry nearly HK$4 million (RM2 million) worth of ketamine into the city has been scarce, said Fuzi.
"Our narcotics side have made contact with them but the response is not so encouraging," he said.
The six men who were said to be part of a sightseeing group were between 18 and 28 years of age.
They were intercepted at the customs clearance counter upon their arrival from Kuala Lumpur last week, the report said, quoting a source who said over 8kg of suspected ketamine was found strapped to the bodies of four of them.
Meanwhile Fuzi said police may investigate DAP's Datuk Zaid Ibrahim under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 over his remarks about the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
"I am aware that some reports have been made against him (Zaid)," he said.
"We definitely need to investigate the case, and it would be done according to Sec(4) of the Sedition Act and Sec(233) of the Multimedia Act."
Zaid on Dec 5 tweeted: "When some Rulers play politics; they must know the consequences. Don't think there is no price for partisanship."
The post came after Sultan Sharafuddin had, in an interview with an English daily, said that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was an "angry man" and would "burn the whole country with his anger".