Today, the activities of a syndicate involving immigration officers at KLIA were uncovered by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Two low-ranking immigration staff were arrested with nearly RM800,000 in cash at their home believed to be bribes received from a syndicate that smuggled in foreign workers.
The "Setting the Counter" syndicate instructs foreign workers who use the special route counters at KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA Terminal 2 to smooth the smuggling process even if they do not meet the criteria set by the immigration department. Because of this, immigration officers at both KLIA terminals are now banned from using cellular phones while on duty.
Immigration officers who have received bribes will send messages to the smuggler's chiefs to instruct foreign workers who want to be smuggled to use the counter where they are on duty. This is part of the changes that have been made by the Malaysian Immigration Department to prevent this smuggling tactic from continuing.