Malaysia officials probed for graft

Malaysia officials probed for graft

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Immigration chiefs in several states in
Malaysia are under probe for corruption, on suspicion of having
approved temporary employment permits for illegal foreign
workers, officials said yesterday.

The investigations followed public complaints that some
illegal foreign workers had been issued temporary work passes
despite the fact that they came in as tourists on social visit
visas, immigration spokesman Aris Chonin said.

"We have reasons to believe there could be irregularities in
the approval of such work passes," Aris said, when contacted by
telephone.

Foreigners entering the country as tourists on social visit
passes are not allowed to work, even on a part time basis,
immigration officials said.

Aris was reported as saying yesterday in the New Straits Times
that a special committee headed by the immigration department's
deputy director-general Abdul Malek Hamzah began the probe on
July 28.

Help from police and the Anti-Corruption Agency would be
sought if necessary, he said.

Aris said preliminary investigations conducted by the
committee, which was set up early this year following public
charges of irregularities, showed "there is some truth in the
allegations."

Many foreign illegal workers, particularly from neighboring
Philippines and Indonesia, have entered the country posing as
tourists with valid passports. They were later found to have
obtained work permits.

Malaysia's booming economy with its growing labor shortage
continues to attract foreign workers, who now number more than
one million, sparking government concern here over possible
social problems they could pose.

Aris said immigration officers at entry points had been
directed to step up checks on tourists entering the country to
curb the entry of illegal workers. "We have our own ways to carry
out the checks," he said.

He warned foreigners on social visit visas against working as
they could be prosecuted and fined up to 1,000 ringgit (US$400)
or face a six-month jail term, or both.

A total of 3,369 foreigners were detained for violating the
conditions of their social visit passes in the first six months
of the year.

Aris said those caught harboring illegals face a heavier fine
of 10,000 ringgit ($4,000) or a five-year imprisonment or both.