THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is looking for the middleman who sought bribes from a Chinese tourist to be allowed to enter Malaysia via KL International Airport (KLIA), said chief commissioner Azam Baki.

Azam was reported as saying in The Star Online that this person was believed to have acted as an agent or middleman for a female Chinese national.

“Initial investigations revealed that the individual who received RM18,000 to bring in the Chinese national through KLIA was not a Malaysian citizen,” Azam was quoted as saying.

“We have already identified the individual and we are tracking him down,” he added.

Azam also said the agency was unable to ascertain if the agent was still in the country or otherwise.

“We obtained the information on the individual based on our initial investigation. Give us space to investigate the matter thoroughly,” he said.

MACC is investigating claims by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing that corruption is rampant among Immigration personnel at KLIA, and that there were reports of bribes being demanded from travellers.

The minister said there were abuses involving a third-party company tasked with handling not-to-land (NTL) visitors.

He also said that a Chinese tourist was asked to pay RM18,000 to be allowed to enter Malaysia after being stopped at KLIA.

The commission has recorded statements from 14 people, including eight Immigration officers, two foreigners, Tiong, and a company director. 

Earlier Azam had said the MACC would interview more witnesses in its ongoing investigation into the alleged corrupt practices of Immigration officers at KLIA. –  July 9, 2023.