Malaysia

Immigration DG under fire for mocking gripes about long UTC queues

Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud’s selfie from Lisbon Airport receives brickbats from social media users

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 16 May 2022 8:52PM

Immigration DG under fire for mocking gripes about long UTC queues
One social media user challenges Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud to speak to those who were in line at UTCs to find out how they really felt about waiting. – The Vibes file pic, May 16, 2022

by Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Immigration Department’s top official has ended on the receiving end of criticism after he posted a tweet from Portugal that appeared to mock complaints about long queues back home.

The department’s director-general, Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, posted a selfie of himself standing in line inside Lisbon Airport, supposedly for the three-day World Border Security Congress.

“Hundreds of people in the queue, nobody complaint (sic),” he wrote.

His tweet appeared to take a swipe at grouses of long lines and waiting times at the immigration office in the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) complex here recently.

Two reporters from The Vibes who went to check on the long lines were harassed and intimidated by guards on duty at the UTC.

The verbal onslaught came about when security guards on duty refused to allow the two reporters to speak to people who had been waiting in line for several hours without been given proper explanations for the delay.

“Hopefully there are no immigration officers who will complain if their food arrives late, or if their bus, LRT, or flights are delayed. Or even when NinjaVan hoards items at the warehouse,” said one user sarcastically.

“Sometimes, your joke is not funny at all,” said one user bluntly.

Another user appeared to chide Dzaimee’s department for the supposedly partial conduct.

“Maybe because all other things are transparent, like here where we have to put up with so many challenges,” one user replied.

One user even challenged the director-general to speak to those who were in line to find out how they really felt about waiting.

“Did you talk to them or just assume? If there is a weakness, fix it. Denial alone is useless. It will only serve to self-destruct,” read the tweet.

Dzaimee’s more recent tweets also allude to him seeing the incident as being blown out of proportion.

“All complaints are accepted with a positive mindset as feedback, but not for baseless verbal attacks,” read his latest tweet.

Earlier today, city police confirmed that Saturday’s incident would be investigated under the Penal Code after initially being deemed as devoid of criminal elements. – The Vibes, May 16, 2022

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