KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Immigration Department (JIM) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh today said the agency and the Home Ministry would be uncompromising with any officials guilty of corruption, be they at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or elsewhere.

He said the department would not protect any officials found engaging in corruption, and ensure that the necessary legal action would be taken against them.

"JIM has completely handed over the investigation related to this claim to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"This department is constantly communicating, discussing and sharing information with MACC to aid in the investigation process transparently and without interference from outside parties,” he said in a statement.

He was referring to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s claim made on June 30 that a "culture of corruption” was rife among Immigration staff at KLIA’s Terminal 1, after he was accused of abusing his power to enter the arrival hall and help a Chinese national said to have been barred entry.

Tiong also claimed that Immigration officers demanded RM3,000 to release detained travellers, with an additional RM3,000 to be paid if the traveller wanted to return to his home country immediately.

Earlier today, Free Malaysia Today reported that MACC had taken down the statements of a minister and two Chinese citizens related to the matter.

It is expected to call up several more people for their statements, the news portal added, citing unnamed sources.

Free Malaysia Today also reported that MACC has identified an individual suspected of being an "agent” in "resolving” a case involving a foreign tourist who failed to meet Immigration rules to enter Malaysia.