KUALA LUMPUR: Anti-corruption watchdog and border management experts are calling for more punitive action against corrupt enforcement officers at the country's entry points.
This comes after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday arrested 12 people, including five enforcement officers, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2, for a counter-setting syndicate.
This syndicate allegedly collaborated with enforcement officers stationed at specific counters to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals.
Malaysia Corruption Watch president Jais Abdul Karim said the Immigration Department should be reformed to close gaps that could be exploited by syndicates.
"This is not the first time we've heard of these cases.
"The fact that they recur every year indicates that this problem has become systemic and that corruption in this sector has almost been normalised."
He added: "Entry points must be equipped with the latest technology to reduce human intervention, which can be manipulated.
"Biometric identification systems and advanced counterfeit detection systems can prevent the entry of foreign nationals without stringent checks.
"These systems can also oversee the activities of enforcement officers."
He said corruption among enforcement officers had persisted due to a lack of oversight and punitive action.
"MCW recommends setting up an independent body to oversee the integrity of enforcement officers at entry points."
He said the body should be empowered to carry out audits, spot checks and take action against officers found involved in graft.
He called for more retraining programmes and stricter laws and penalties to tackle graft.
Officers should be made aware that engaging in graft not only affected their lives but also threatened national security and public welfare, he added.
Those found guilty of graft should be appropriately punished, which would deter others, he added.
Border management expert Dr Mohd Ramlan Mohd Arshad, of Universiti Teknologi Mara's Administrative Science and Policy Studies Faculty, said those manning borders should be rotated.
He said the rotation must include enforcement officers, heads of department and superiors.