MACC to investigate corruption allegations, says Azam Baki

PETALING JAYA: Allegations of corruption at KL International Airport (KLIA) will be investigated, says Tan Sri Azam Baki.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said it would launch a probe into the allegations of corruption there as claimed by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

"We will get information from all parties and investigate accordingly. We urge the public to not sensationalise or speculate on the issue," he said in a brief statement on Saturday (July 1).

Tiong was reported to have said that he had to step in to help an employee of a China-based media company after Immigration officers held her up at KLIA on her arrival from Shenzhen on Thursday (June 29).

The woman alleged that although her travel documents were in order, she was denied entry by Immigration officers.

She alleged that she was asked to pay several thousand ringgit if she wanted to be allowed entry.

When contacted by The Star on Friday (June 30), Tiong said the station official called up the Consulate-General of Malaysia in Guangzhou and sought help upon seeing her colleague in distress.

“I received a call from a Consulate-General staff member who related what allegedly happened. I contacted the MACC and together with its officers, we went over to KLIA at 3pm to investigate. I met and spoke to both the visitors and Immigration officers on duty,” he said.

Tiong also said the Immigration officers told him there was a language barrier, and the matter was a misunderstanding between them and the Chinese woman.