KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 ― The National Audit Department has spotted several weaknesses in the planning and implementation of the Malaysian Immigration System (myIMMs), an online initiative that helps local authorities screen passengers entering and leaving Malaysia.

According to the First Series of the Auditor-General’s Report 2015 released today, the myIMMs contract worth RM29.9 million was approved by the Finance Ministry through the direct negotiations method to HeiTech Padu Berhad.

The report said the contract was signed on November 1, 2010, between Putrajaya and HeiTech for a one-year period commencing March 1 that year to February 2011.

“The agreement period was earlier than the date of approval for direct negotiation by MOF and the Letter of Acceptance,” the A-G’s report said in highlighting one of the project’s weaknesses.

The A-G also found that payments worth RM22.64 million were made without being “supported with complete documentation”.

It also highlighted several other shortcomings with the implementation of myIMMs, including the disbursement of full payments for systems that were yet to be installed.

“Full payment for uninstalled and unused Biometric system and equipment worth RM10.30 million had been made.

“Agency link-up was not fully installed, however full payment had been made,” the report revealed.

Full payment was also made despite the “Business Continuity Plan” being deemed “unsatisfactory”, the report added.

The Home Ministry also did not carry out the User Acceptance Test (UAT) and Provisional Acceptance Test (PAT) despite it being a condition stated in the agreement.

The A-G report also pointed out that the data in the new immigration system was “inaccurate” and that “data integrity was suspicious.”

Local daily the Malay Mail reported earlier today that authorities suspect the online Immigration system had been compromised by “suspicious” breakdowns.

A highly-placed Home Ministry source said the system’s frequent “crashes” had raised serious questions about whether myIMMs was fit for its purpose during a time of severe threat from terrorists, people smugglers and other criminals.

The source said that corruption could be the cause of the system’s malfunctions and the authorities would be investigating the issue.

The myIMMs system was linked to Interpol’s I-Checkit in 2014 to enable authorities to verify within seconds if a passport had been stolen or reported lost.