136 misconduct, crime cases involving Immigration officers, Dewan Negara told

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 136 cases involving Immigration Department officers have been investigated and officers found guilty in connection with elements of crime and misconduct in the process of foreigners entering Malaysia during the 2020 to 2022 period, the Dewan Negara was told.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said of the total, 112 cases involved staff who violated the code of conduct under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, while the other 24 were for criminal offences decided by the courts.

"The Home Ministry is very serious as well as firm on the issue of integrity and will not compromise on the misconduct of its staff," he said when replying to a question from Senator Hussin Ismail on Wednesday (June 21), who wanted to know the number of cases that have been investigated in relation to the existence of criminal elements of corruption and misconduct among immigration officers.

Hussin also asked about the government's efforts to overcome the issue of tourists overstaying after their visas expired.

Shamsul Anuar said from 2020 to June 5 this year, Immigration had arrested 13,242 foreign nationals for overstaying which is an offence under the Immigration Act.

He also said the total number includes 4,292 foreigners in 2020, 2,704 (2021), 4,267 (2022) and 1,979 from January to June 6 this year.

He added that the ministry had never compromised on aspects of national security involving the entry and presence of foreigners in the country by implementing several strategies including imposing visa requirements on certain foreigners. – Bernama