KOTA KINABALU, Feb 5 ― Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman today said no dispensation will be accorded to the four Immigration officers arrested in Lahad Datu recently for dubiously issuing immigrants with long-term social visit passes.
He said the state government expected the relevant authorities to fully prosecute those arrested for compromising the state’s security and immigration laws by allowing foreigners to stay unlawfully.
“The Sabah government will not compromise on any lack of integrity and unlawful acts among government officers in positions of authority. There must be zero tolerance to such irresponsible acts that could undermine the security and sovereignty of our nation.
“If found guilty, maximum penalty must be imposed so it will act as a deterrent to others. Those in positions of authority that have been entrusted to guard our borders should be above dubious acts such as taking bribes for personal gain, not forgetting that it's against the law,” he said in a statement here today.
It was previously reported that the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested four immigration officers in Lahad Datu following complaints that Pakistanis have been getting dubious long-term social visit passes to stay in the State.
It was learnt that they had had confiscated two cheques for RM175,000 and RM7,500 during a raid on the suspects' house on Monday.
The MACC also seized cash amounting to RM50,000 from another house and several related files from the Lahad Datu Immigration Department's office for investigation.
The arrests came after MACC received complaints that a number of Pakistanis had been given long-term social visit passes through “local” wives, although it was later discovered that there were no spouses involved.
The four immigration officers and a female clerk, all aged between 29 and 56, were working with the Lahad Datu Immigration. They are currently under remand to facilitate investigation under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
