KLIA commotion: two Chinese nationals returned home, says MACC chief

PUTRAJAYA – The Chinese nationals linked to the commotion at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) last week have returned to their home country today, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

“We have recorded statements from the two women, and we cannot stop them from returning home,” he told reporters here today.

Azam said the MACC had recorded statements from 14 individuals regarding the incident, namely the two Chinese nationals, one VIP, eight immigration officers and other witnesses.

Elaborating, he said the issue of corruption emerged after one of the women was contacted by a Chinese man who claimed to be an agent of a company appointed by the KLIA management to handle those who had been given “Not To Land” (NTL) notices by the Immigration Department.

“I confirmed that there is an external party involved in contacting the woman in question for the purpose of helping to buy a plane ticket and setting a management fee, so we will conduct an investigation and track down the agent,” he said.

He further said that MACC’s investigation found that there is a company responsible for managing travellers who had been served with NTL notices at KLIA since 2017.

However, he said the commission wants to find out whether it was done according to procedures or otherwise.

Azam said 41 Chinese nationals, including the woman involved, were slapped with the NTL notices on the day of the incident.

“MACC is also looking into the system and procedures concerning the issuance of NTL notices, including the process that must be followed until the Chinese woman is granted entry (into the country),” he said.

In another development, Azam confirmed that MACC had received information about a National Registration Department officer who allegedly asked for money to issue citizenship certificates.

“We will start an investigation as soon as possible,” he said.

Earlier today, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he had received a complaint regarding the alleged corruption involving the officer concerned. – Bernama, July 5, 2023