KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has suggested a rotation of officers at the border posts near Thailand as some have been found to enter Malaysia just by waving their hands.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Mustafar Ali also told Utusan Malaysia’s Sunday edition, Mingguan Malaysia, that every container that comes into the country should be scanned, after 139 graves and human trafficking camps were recently discovered in Wang Kelian, Perlis, near the border.
Mustafar said some do not have border passes and enter the country merely by waving their hands, while some pay RM2 to enter on a motorcycle.
“Thirdly, the weakness is because some officers are said to be stationed at an area for too long, and there needs to be rotations so there wouldn’t be a network established in the area.
“Next, a scanning machine or an automatic system must be set up and strengthened if there are weaknesses so that every item either in containers or vans can be scanned,” Mustafar said in the interview published today.
Mustafar said such a proposal needs funds and told Putrajaya to take his suggestion seriously.
He added that if the weaknesses are not dealt with comprehensively, it can open up opportunities for corruption.
Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told New Straits Times that starting tomorrow, those entering and exiting Malaysia must provide valid documents before they can cross the border.
“Some of the states treated people from Thailand with leniency in the hope of stimulating the tourism sector.
“This approach must be stopped as we do not want to see leakages where government-subsidised goods are smuggled out of the country,” he was quoted as saying.
On Monday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had announced the discovery of 139 graves in 28 camps of human trafficking syndicates between Kampung Wai in Kuala Perlis to Tangga 100 at Felda Lubuk Sireh, stretching over 11 kilometres.
The remains of four victims have been recovered so far from the site of the people-smuggling camps that are believed to have been used to hold Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants for a ransom.
