Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh. -Photo: GLENN GUAN/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The proposal to limit Immigration officers to one-year terms at sensitive posts, followed by rotation, will be considered if the need arises, says Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.
The Immigration Department director-general said this when asked about the recent arrests of its personnel by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief over "counter setting" activities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport terminals.
Setting counters is a modus operandi where “problematic” foreigners would be informed which Immigration counters they should queue up at to facilitate their entry.
Ruslin said that he was quite clear on the department's stance that all members must comply with existing regulations and standard operating procedures.
"They cannot work outside of this context. We strongly support the actions taken by the MACC.
"My team and myself will give our full cooperation and leave it fully to the MACC for them to carry out their follow-ups. Meanwhile at our level we must ensure that those stationed at entry points are those with integrity," he said.
He added that the department had conducted 277 inspections at entry points within the last two years.
"If we find that the officer is not suited there, they will be transferred, and this will be part of duty rotation. We do not want one to stay in a sensitive area for too long.
"Those in sensitive positions are not to be stationed there for longer than three years. And if there is a need I will shorten it to only a year," he said.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki was reported as saying on Aug 21 that his department had uncovered a syndicate bringing foreign nationals into the country without undergoing inspection following the arrest of 12 individuals through "Op Pump" carried out by the MACC around the Klang Valley, Penang, and Kelantan on Aug 20.
Immigration officers were among those arrested in the initial raid and follow-ups as part of the operation.
