KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has taken down the statements of a minister and two Chinese citizens related to allegations of corruption among Immigration staff in the country’s main airport, Free Malaysia Today reported this morning
The MACC is expected to call up several more people for their statements, the news portal added, citing unnamed sources.
“As of now, the statements of three witnesses, comprising a minister and two main witnesses, who are Chinese nationals, have been recorded.
“Several immigration officers involved will be called to provide their statements today,” one insider was quoted as saying.
The news portal did not disclose the identity of the minister.
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.
“We are tracking down an individual who acted as an agent and allegedly solicited bribes amounting to RM18,000 to resolve the case,” one of the sources was quoted as saying.
On June 30, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing claimed a “culture of corruption” was rife among Immigration staff at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 after he was accused of abusing his power to enter the arrival hall to help a visitor from China who was 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.
