Immigration steps up hunt for foreigners issued fraudulent PLKS
PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department will intensify enforcement operations to track down foreigners holding more than 1,300 Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) believed to have been irregularly approved through a syndicate uncovered under Op Crack.
The Malaysian Immigration Department plans to ramp up operations to locate foreigners possessing over 1,300 Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) potentially issued fraudulently, as revealed by Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban. Zakaria disclosed that the enforcement division is gathering intelligence to pinpoint and apprehend individuals with these improperly approved passes.
A total of at least 1,300 such PLKS are believed to be in circulation, acquired through a syndicate uncovered during Operation Crack. Zakaria welcomed public assistance in providing information to aid enforcement officers in tracking down these individuals. He assured that the identities of those who come forward would remain confidential.
Prior to this, immigration officers encountered difficulties as the registered addresses for the irregularly issued PLKS were also found to be fictitious. The department had previously stated its intention to cancel all improperly approved PLKS and trace their holders following the dismantling of a syndicate suspected of manipulating the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) to approve these passes.
Twelve individuals, including six from the Immigration Department and a police officer, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the syndicate. Investigations indicated that 1,306 PLKS were approved through unused foreign-worker quotas, leading to an estimated RM2.4 million in lost levy payments, with nine bank accounts containing around RM300,000 frozen as part of the investigation.
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