Probe on ‘hanky-panky’ at border
KOTA KINABALU: A special task force is carrying out investigations into alleged graft involving enforcement officers said to have allowed illegal immigrants to enter the country.
The team, comprising the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Eastern Sabah Security Zone and the police, will investigate the matter as exposed in a video by Indonesian media.
Sabah MACC director Datuk Shaharom Abdul Manaf said they would look into allegations of graft shown in an investigative video by Kontroversi 7 Trans_7, claiming that Malaysian security personnel were allegedly taking between RM50 and RM100 from Indonesians entering the state via Tawau illegally.
He said police would look into the aspect of human trafficking, which the same video alleged that hundreds of Indonesians had entered through at least four “lorong tikus” (illegal routes).
“We have started investigating the claims,” he said.
Shaharom said they were also looking at strengthening procedures and controls with other agencies at border areas to curb human trafficking and other illegal activities.
“A more effective standard operating procedure (SOP) with checks and balances will be worked out together with other agencies,” he said.
Shaharom said the MACC could not work alone in checking corruption on the frontline as it did not have enough manpower to carry out raids.
Tawau police chief Asst Comm Fadil Marsus said they had identified several people, including policemen in the video, as well as locations, vehicles and boats as part of their investigations.
He said police were also looking at issues of misconduct and integrity among their personnel and would take stern action if they were involved as alleged.
“We have been taking action against illegal immigrants,” he said, adding that this year alone, 43 arrests were made involving seven human-trafficking cases, apart from hundreds of illegals detained in daily operations.
ACP Fadil said operations had been stepped up in Tawau’s Sabindo areas and illegal routes in Brumas, Brantian and Kalabakan.
