KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is looking for a foreigner who acted as an agent asking for money from a Chinese citizen after the latter’s arrival at KLIA in the recent incident exposed by the tourism minister.
The Star reported MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki saying that the agent was not a Malaysian citizen.
Azam also said that the foreigner had “received RM18,000 to bring in the Chinese national through KLIA”, according to the report.
He also said the MACC could not yet determine whether the agent was still in Malaysia or if he had left.
The agency is investigating allegations of graft at the international airport following claims by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who said there were cases of tourists or foreign visitors being detained by Immigration officers, and then asked for money in order to be released.
Such payments could also be asked of those who had “Not to Land” (NTL) notices imposed on them in order to enter the country.
Tiong’s claims last week followed his intervention at KLIA to help a Chinese national detained by Immigration officers. His assistance was reportedly sought by the consulate general of Malaysia in Guangzhou for the Chinese national, who was a female employee of a China-based media company.
It has also emerged that an independent company appointed by the KLIA Airline Operators Committee exists to handle NTL passengers in obtaining passage on return flights.
Azam had been reported saying that the company had agents who solicited fees to help such passengers.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd then issued a statement to clarify that it had no part in appointing the company.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for the probe into the graft allegations involving Immigration officers at KLIA, but also stressed that problematic officers were few in number, while the majority have been performing their duties well. – The Vibes, July 9, 2023
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