KUALA LUMPUR – A former Immigration Department employee is among the individuals suspected to have created a pathway for the temporary employment visit pass forgery syndicate to hack into the department’s database system, according to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Seri Azam Baki.
He said the service of the staff member, however, was terminated several years ago.
“It is believed that the employee has access to the immigration database system and allowed the syndicate to steal the passwords used by immigration officers.
“They used various equipment to hack into the system until they are able to duplicate the software and print the passes outside the immigration office.”
Azam said five suspects, including one with a Datuk title, have been remanded for six days from today to facilitate further investigation into the case.
RM25.5 million in cash and assets, including 34 luxury watches, have also been seized from the syndicate, he added.
Department director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said they are in the midst of tracking down 21,378 foreign workers suspected of using the syndicate’s services since last year.
The foreigners are believed to be working in various sectors, including plantation, manufacturing and cleaning services, he added.
“The syndicate has not involved the countries (legal agents) supplying foreign labour, so far. Those who bought the passes are employers and individuals.
“The data on foreign workers is in the system. If we find them selling the passes, they will be detained and deported.”
Khairul Dzaimee said the government has suffered RM4.7 million of losses in levies – based on payments of between RM600 and RM1,600 for each valid pass, depending on the type of employment sector.
He said although the syndicate hacked into the system, they failed to change the blacklist statuses of foreigners who have been banned from entering the country. – Bernama, April 7, 2021
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