KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — The Immigration Department is in the process of developing a new Integrated Immigration System (IIS) to replace the Malaysian Immigration System (myIMMs) which has been found to have been manipulated for fraudulent approvals of foreign labour quota.

Immigration director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the department was in the process of procuring the IIS system, where the tender for the system was opened to vendors last May and would be closed in August.

"We will first make an assessment of the vendors who are interested in the tender of the system before launching the IIS system fully.

"If everything goes well, the department will issue an offer letter to the successful vendor in January next year," he told Bernama. 

Khairul Dzaimee said while the IIS system is being developed, myIMMs would continue to be used with some improvements made.

myIMMs will only be completely halted after the IIS system  is fully handled by department, he said, adding that maintenance of the IIS system would be placed under the vendor.

Asked whether there were Immigration personnel involved in the manipulation and fraud under myIMMs, he said disciplinary action would be taken against those found involved.

The department has lodged a police report on the manipulation and fraud under myIMMs and investigation is in progress, he added.

The Auditor-General's Report 2018 Series 1 revealed several issues, including elements of manipulation and fraud under myIMMs for foreign labour quota approval resulting in losses of revenue to the country. 

Thus, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said action would be taken by the Immigration Department based on the findings of the Auditor-General's Report on the manipulations and fraud in the system.

Based on the audit for 2016 to 2018, there were manipulations to the system to create quota for 123 companies to bring in foreign workers and the approved quota was found to be false. 

An audit report analysis also found 21,378 foreign workers from the 32,424 quota created improperly obtained temporary employment visit passes (PLKS). 

Last July 19, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya  said the commission had set up a task force to investigate cases which call for punitive action with regard to irregularities disclosed in the latest Auditor–General’s Report. — Bernama