KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department aims to fully rotate its personnel by mid-next year to address integrity issues, with director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaban stating that the move is designed to minimise the risk of misconduct.
"We also have taken steps to limit the duration any staff can serve at Immigration counters to no more than five years," he told reporters in his corporate visit to Media Prima Bhd today.
"Currently, we have achieved a 65 per cent key performance indicator (KPI) for staff rotation and we aim to implement a 100 per cent rotation system by mid-next year."
"However, we must ensure proper planning to prevent disruptions to daily operations. New staff need training and experience to manage immigration processes efficiently."
Zakaria also said that the rotation period for Immigration personnel would be between three and five years.
Zakaria earlier toured Media Prima's News and Current Affairs Division facilities in Balai Berita, Jalan Riong, Bangsar.
Also present were MPB group chairman Datuk Seri Syed Hussian Aljunid, Media Prima Omnia chief operating officer (sales) Mohd Efendi Omar, deputy group managing editor Farrah Naz Karim and Media Prima Television Network News and Current Affairs group editor Azhari Muhidin.
Commenting on the Migrant Repatriation Programme which ends on Dec 31, Zakaria said the department has recorded 202,245 individual registrations.
"To date, 202,245 individuals have registered, and nearly 80 per cent have been repatriated. This repatriation programme allows undocumented migrants or those without valid passes to return to their home countries.
"After the programme ends, legal action will be taken against those who do not participate or remain in the country illegally and enforcement operations will continue to tackle this issue," he said.