PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) is conducting an investigation into allegations of "phantom travel" syndicate activities at the KL International Airport (KLIA).
AKPS, in a statement Tuesday (June 24), announced that the investigation is looking into the involvement of officers who are in cahoots with a syndicate that uses a modus operandi of not recording the movements of visitors entering the country at the entry points and charging a certain fee to enable travellers, especially civil servants, to avoid their movements being tracked by their employers.
"AKPS will not compromise and protect any officer who commits a breach of integrity that tarnishes the good name and image of the department.
"Action and punishment will be taken based on existing legal provisions, including dismissal if the officer who committed the offence is proven guilty," the statement said.
AKPS said the agency is working with the Home Ministry and the Immigration Department to improve the process of screening visitors at the country's entry points, especially at KLIA, including the full use of "autogates".
"With the full use of autogates for exit clearance, the development of the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) and the use of artificial intelligence technology, AKPS believes that the issues of counter setting, flying passports and phantom travel involving officers can be reduced and eliminated," according to the agency.
Recently, a local media portal revealed the existence of a "phantom travel" syndicate at KLIA which allegedly involves government employees who fly abroad without their travel details being shown in immigration records.
According to the portal's report, the syndicate's modus operandi involved travellers going through the Immigration process at a special counter, which was manned by conspiring officers. - Bernama
