Amidst recent accusations levelled at the Immigration Department, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has issued a clarion call for civil servants to discontinue their “old ways”. The call, intended to pave the path for national excellence, came during his address at a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Department personnel.
According to the PM, stringent actions must be enforced against those who partake in corrupt practices. Emphasizing his role, Anwar iterated that the top leadership should not assume that everything is fine. Instead, they must verify facts firsthand. He emphasized the necessity of improvement over fault-finding or generic condemnation.
Ibrahim confirmed his commitment to defending the integrity of the Immigration Department during his surprise visit to Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) Terminal 1. However, he sternly warned the handful still practicing ‘old ways’, declaring the necessity for immediate and uncompromising action to protect civil service careers, the department’s image, and the country at large.
The Prime Minister, though generally pleased with the level of service despite some deficiencies, emphasized that such flaws must be regularly corrected. He reminded everyone that striving for excellence is an enduring concept, not a novelty.
Earlier, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, had sparked controversy by allegedly entering KLIA’s Terminal 1 arrival hall without a valid pass. Anwar responded, stating the Cabinet would discuss the incident and Tiong’s subsequent allegations on Wednesday.
Tiong, on Friday, clarified that his presence at KLIA’s Terminal 1 was for an official visit, and he possessed a valid pass. He further accused Immigration officers of soliciting RM3,000 from foreign tourists for release from detention, with an additional RM3,000 for an immediate return via a “special lane” and RM12,000 for visa processing.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has since commenced investigations into these allegations involving the Immigration Department. Both Tiong and a Chinese national are expected to appear at the MACC headquarters today.
This news story is based on an article from malaymail.com.
