PUTRAJAYA: Admitting that it has not been easy to obtain cooperation in its intelligence and investigation work, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner, Datuk Seri Azam Baki (pix) said the Immigration Department was among the bold ones to do this in eradicating corruption and abuse of power.
He said the Immigration Department through its director-general, Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud had given such cooperation to the MACC in exposing a syndicate misusing the country’s border entry and exit stamp marks even in cases involving the department’s officers and staff.
The MACC has reportedly busted the syndicate with the arrest of 46 people including 27 Immigration officers in a massive operation on Monday.
‘The sting operation codenamed ‘Op Selat’ was conducted with the cooperation of the Immigration Department following six months of monitoring and intelligence gathering at the country’s entry/exit points, particularly Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), klia2 and Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru.
“I very much appreciate the cooperation given by him (Khairul Dzaimee) in the investigation which exposed the syndicate. The joint intelligence work and investigation were conducted since some months ago although the abuse of the stamp marks also involved a number of Immigration officers,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
Khairul Dzaimee in a statement yesterday, on the arrest of the officers, said the Immigration Department would give full cooperation to the MACC to complete its investigation.
“The Immigration Department would not compromise with any of its officers and staff who abused their power provided under the Immigration Act and regulations for personal gains,” he added.
Praising Khairul Dzaimee’s commitment, Azam said it was the first such cooperation between the MACC and Immigration Department and there would be more cases of organised crime to be exposed.
“Cooperation in intelligence and investigation with any government agency is much needed to enable corruption and abuse of power in this country to be wiped out,“ he said, adding that the Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara Malaysia had been among MACC’s strategic partners in intelligence gathering and investigations before. — Bernama
