Corruption: Immigration Dept in the spotlight

People’s indifference is the best breeding ground for corruption to grow.– Delia Ferreira Rubio, Chair of Transparency International

Corruption is a never-ending subject for many writers, including myself, because the fight against the scourge is always a failure. Hence, it is unlikely to end.

In my four decades as a journalist, I must have written countless articles on corruption. The irony is that although we are aware why there is little or no success in the war against corruption, there seems to be nothing we can do about it. Or is it because we just allow it to happen again and again.

Every time I have to touch on the subject in my column here or elsewhere, it would be because of the emergence of a new corruption scandal in the country. This is proven true again.

This time, the Immigration Department is in the spotlight for the wrong reason.

On Sept 18, the MACC seized nearly RM800,000 in cash stored in bedrooms during a raid on two Immigration Department officers linked to a syndicate that smuggled in foreigners through a “counter setting” modus operandi.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said 60 individuals, including 50 enforcement officers, were found to be involved in the operation.

“A sum of RM518,250 in cash was found at the home of a Grade KP22 immigration officer in Pahang. The money was placed in a suitcase in the bedroom.

“In addition, RM248,443 in cash was seized from a Grade KP19 immigration officer in Malacca. The money was found under the bed in the master bedroom,” he said during a press conference in Putrajaya.

Azam added that apart from the two officers, another raid was conducted on a Grade KP22 immigration officer in Negeri Sembilan.

Elaborating, Azam said the syndicate’s mastermind is a senior immigration officer who is “influential” within the syndicate and will be charged in court early next month.

The suspect, who is in his early 40s and has served in the Immigration Department for 20 years, previously escaped during an earlier operation but was apprehended on Sept 5.

“The suspect we arrested is the mastermind. He controlled approximately 50 immigration officers because of his influence.

“He acted as the ‘focal person’ for almost all immigration officers, ensuring that they carried out his orders,” Azam added.

Additionally, he said four other agents involved will be charged in court soon.

The expose by the MACC boss is believed to be linked to the syndicate operating at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

This is a most serious development of the extent of corruption within the Immigration Department. When we have untrustworthy personnel manning our entry points into the country, there is real cause for alarm.

Only God knows whether criminals, terrorists or even those from mental asylums abroad are now in the country because of rogue immigration personnel. This is also a serious breach of our national security.

Those involved, and there are many of them in the syndicate as reported, must face the long arm of the law. If found guilty, they must be sacked from the civil service and serve time, as behind bars is where these corrupt men and women should be.

Whenever a new prime minister takes over, we will hear him proclaim that he has zero tolerance for corruption and that fighting graft is his top priority.

So, it is too with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Truth be told, I doubt there is an improvement in the corruption index for Malaysia since Anwar became the nation’s chief executive.

And we do know why the fight against corruption often fails. Many reasons are deeply embedded in both the structure of governance and society.

I can point to three main factors. Top on my list is that the institutions tasked with fighting corruption, such as anti-corruption agencies, the judiciary and law enforcement, are either underfunded, lack independence, or are themselves corrupt. When the institutions meant to combat corruption are compromised, reforms fail or are ineffectual.

Here, I must seriously ask Azam Baki and his MACC team to search their conscience as to whether they are truly clean and above board. If not, then they should know what to do.

Secondly, there is this lack of political will to fight corruption. Political elites may publicly declare a fight against corruption but lack the genuine commitment to implement necessary reforms. Often, leaders who benefit from corrupt practices have little incentive to create effective anti-corruption mechanisms.

Thirdly, but definitely not the last, is the lack of public accountability.

In many cases, citizens do not have enough channels to hold leaders accountable. Lack of transparency, weak freedom of the press and poor civil society engagement further weaken oversight and accountability mechanisms.

We know why our war against corruption has not succeeded. The question is: What are we going to do about it?

The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.