KUALA LUMPUR: The issuance of tourist visas has been identified as the main operation of counter-setting syndicates at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 (KLIA and klia2), says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
According to a MACC statement today, the syndicates reportedly bribed Immigration officers to allow foreigners, particularly from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, to enter the country by issuing tourist visas without adhering to protocols.
Many of the foreign nationals then abused their visas by overstaying and seeking illegal employment. The syndicates also helped foreigners to evade the Immigration blacklist.
"These syndicates do not utilise the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), which is designed to register and monitor foreign workers in the country," said a source as quoted in the statement.
"The misuse of tourist visas for illegal work has been identified as widespread, and this creates opportunities for foreign nationals to illegally enter and work in the country," the source said.
The source added that the fees charged by syndicates to foreign nationals seeking work permits through unofficial channels ranged from RM6,000 to RM12,000.
MACC intelligence division director Datuk Zainul Darus confirmed the matter when contacted.
The graft-busters have been going after the "counter-setting" syndicates that were believed to comprise a wide range of networks, including local agents, foreigners and also civil servants, for more than a month since the crackdown began.