PUTRAJAYA: An agent suspected of soliciting a fee to help a Chinese national after she was denied entry into the country last month is understood to have absconded, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the anti-graft agency had not been able to trace the agent as well as the Chinese national involved.
“We have (also) checked immigration records, and the system showed that the two have left the country,” he told a press conference at the MACC headquarters here today.
Responding to claims that the duo were actually still in Malaysia, he urged those with information to come forward to assist the agency in their investigations.
For now, he said, he had instructed the agency to conclude its investigation and submit the report to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.
Earlier this month, Azam said MACC was tracking down the agent, believed to be a foreigner, for purportedly soliciting a fee to help a Chinese national after she was allegedly denied entry into Malaysia.
It is believed that the agent is linked to a company appointed by a group of airlines to manage travellers who were slapped with the Not-To-Land (NTL) notices.
Previously, tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing admitted to being in a commotion with immigration officers at KLIA’s Terminal 1 after he attempted to intervene in the case of a Chinese national who was prohibited entry into Malaysia.
Tiong claimed his visit to the airport had exposed a “culture of corruption by a few officials and the chronic abuse of power”.
Azam said MACC had recorded statements from at least 14 people involved in the incident, including Tiong, the Chinese woman, and eight immigration officers.
MACC officers to use body cameras and vests
Separately, Azam said MACC has procured 142 units of body cameras and vests to promote transparency in its operations.
He said the initiative was to help protect the agency’s officers from allegations of irregularities in their operations.
“With these body cameras, I’m confident that we can avoid unfounded allegations against our officers in their line of duty,” he said at the launch of the use of the body cameras by MACC.
Azam said the SD card from the body cameras would be stored with MACC and be submitted in court as evidence, should the need arise.
He also thanked Putrajaya for the additional allocation of RM20 million to the agency, part of which was used to procure the body cameras and vests.
Asked how much was spent on the equipment, he declined to provide any details but said they were purchased at market value.
