Phantom Travels Another Syndicate Plaguing Klia

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A new syndicate involving civil servants travelling abroad without immigration records has been uncovered at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
This is in addition to the alleged “counter setting” scams, “fly” syndicates, and wildlife smuggling plaguing the airport.
A Malaysiakini investigation at KLIA over the past few weeks found that several Immigration Department officers are involved in this syndicate.
“This syndicate is not a new thing. It has been going on for a long time.
“It’s just that recently, it has become popular among government employees from other departments, especially those who want to travel abroad without being detected by their superior officers,” said a source from the Immigration Department.
Malaysiakini calls this syndicate “phantom travels”.
How it works
According to the source, there are two types of civil servants involved.
“The first type has a high position and can easily go abroad or anywhere because there is no superior officer to monitor them.
“The second type is low-ranking staff who are monitored by superior officers,” he said.
Despite being low-ranking government employees, the source said they have a lot of money due to their involvement in “projects”.
However, they have problems spending the money due to constant monitoring by their superiors.
ADS“If they want to go abroad, they are required to inform their superiors and may be questioned about how they procured the money and so on.
“To avoid it, they go through this syndicate,” he said.
Avoiding the ‘autogate’
Malaysiakini’s investigation also found that the syndicate’s modus operandi was so smooth that it was difficult to detect without close monitoring, with collusion extending to immigration officers on duty at the counters.
To leave the country, these civil servants bypass the “autogate” normally used by travellers and go through the immigration counter instead, with the help of the officer on duty.
This results in their passports not being scanned, stamped, or recorded as leaving the country. The immigration officer at the counter then helps them to get to the departure terminal.
After travelling to their desired country, they return to Malaysia in the same way. They return through the “friendly” immigration counter, without any entry stamp recorded in their passports.
In essence, according to immigration records, the civil servants never left the country.
Payments involved
According to a source from KLIA Terminal 1, the “service fee” to pass through the immigration counter is between RM1,000 and RM1,500.
“In the past, immigration officers who carried out ‘projects’ would travel abroad without the knowledge of the department head.
“Now, I see staff from other departments also starting to go abroad without being tracked.
“They are trying to avoid reporting to superiors about their travel. As we know, government officials are required to report travel abroad, especially if it involves countries that require visas.
“This way, they can travel without the knowledge of the department head.
“For example, a low-grade officer who earns RM3,000 (monthly) but suddenly travels to the Middle East or East Asia, could raise questions. If there is no passport stamp, there is no proof they have been there.
“Without travel records, there is no proof they’ve been abroad, allowing them to spend big without raising suspicion. They also avoid questions on how they could afford the travel,” he added.
Although not all immigration officers are involved, it was understood that this practice has become a “culture” among a few immigration staff.
‘Thanos’ reigns in KLIA
Malaysiakini also learnt about a rogue immigration officer at KLIA, known among the staff as “Thanos”.
A source from the Immigration Department in Putrajaya told Malaysiakini that “Thanos” has extraordinary wealth despite only being a KP19 grade officer.
According to checks, an immigration officer at the KP19 grade typically earns RM2,000 to RM2,500, including allowances.
Despite complaints lodged against “Thanos”, the source said no action had been taken due to “protection” accorded by several senior officers.
“He is also one of those who often travel abroad, but with no record indicated in the immigration system.
“He also travels domestically. He has never been questioned. You could say he is a rogue at KLIA.”
With all this happening, the source referred to the “phantom travels” syndicate as scary.
“We must ask these questions. Is this just the tip of the iceberg? If there are officials who dare to manipulate the immigration system for personal gain, how many more are involved?
“Is this also used for other illegal activities such as smuggling or human trafficking? How can the immigration control system be tightened?
“The authorities need to investigate this immediately before this scandal becomes bigger and affects the integrity of our entire immigration system,” he said.
‘Beyond redemption’
Commenting further, the source said corruption among civil servants at KLIA was “beyond redemption”.
“Corruption and KLIA are inseparable. The staff there are ‘beyond repair’, you could say ‘toxic level’.
“I’m not saying everyone is involved, but most are involved directly or indirectly. From immigration to customs, from workers checking baggage to security guards, cleaners, everyone is ‘infected’ with the corruption virus.
“Almost every day, there are arrests, and foreigners who try to enter illegally are deported, but it persists.
“For example, Malaysiakini previously published an article that an immigration officer was reported to the police for possessing a foreign passport, believed to be linked to the ‘fly’ syndicate.
“After the report, he disappeared and could not be traced. However, his friend known as ‘Thanos’ is still operating,” the source lamented.
Malaysiakini has contacted Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar since Thursday for comments, but received no reply.
Previous scandals
Previously, Malaysiakini reported that an immigration officer had been reported to the police for possessing 12 foreign passports - believed to be linked to the “fly” syndicate.
However, the Immigration Department said the officer had disappeared and could no longer be traced.
The “fly” syndicate refers to activities that allegedly falsify immigration statuses, clearing the records of individuals who have overstayed their visas, or who are blacklisted, by using exit and entry stamps for a certain fee.
Previously, it was reported that immigration officers would secretly take stamps out to a certain location, then proceed to stamp passports that had been provided by agents, and collect payment.
After being exposed, Malaysiakini learnt that the syndicate had revised its modus operandi, using a more difficult-to-detect method.
According to sources, the syndicate operates by having immigration officers receive passports from agents, bringing them to the official counter to have them legally stamped, before returning the passports to the agents. - Mkini

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