Northern border ‘for sale’ from as low as RM10

Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Updated 6 years ago · Published on 23 Jun 2019 7:00AM · 11 Comments

BORDER control authorities are allegedly selling out the country for as little as RM10 – the bribe collected from tourist bus and van drivers to wave them through the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah without being inspected, said tour operators.

They told The Malaysian Insight that the bribe prevents these vehicles from being held up for hours while checks are carried out.

It is also easy to bring controlled items into the country without being taxed, they said, adding that between 100 and 150 tour buses go through the checkpoint daily.

“I have been managing a travel agency for a long time, and every time I take tourists in or out, I will put aside between RM100 and RM200,” said a tour bus driver, who wanted to be known only as Salleh.

“The bribe is usually RM10 per bus or van, but when they see lots of goods being brought in, the price goes up.”

He spoke of his experience going through the Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Safety (CIQS) Complex when his passengers brought in pots and utensils from Thailand to be sold in Malaysia.

“When they (enforcement officers) see a lot of goods being brought in, they do not settle for the usual RM10 bribe. They will demand more.”

A reporter from The Malaysian Insight witnessed this practice when going undercover as a tourist to Thailand on bus and van tours over the past six months.

Since December 2017, all border control agencies have been coordinated under the Border Control Agency (Aksem) to include the Immigration and Customs Departments, National Anti-Drug Agency, National Kenaf and Tobacco Authority, and police.

The Malaysian Insight is made to understand that tour bus and van drivers are forced to pay bribes to enforcement officers at every multi-agency checkpoint, involving police, customs and immigration.

Sources, however, said such activities began to decline after Abdul Hamid Bador was appointed as inspector-general of police.

“They fear him because he regularly drops by unannounced,” said a bus driver.

Since Abdul Hamid Bador's appointment as the nation's top cop, the practice of bribery at the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint has seen a decline. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 23, 2019.

The bribes are taken when the passengers are dropped off for immigration checks. Enforcement officers board the empty bus or van to collect the money from the driver. This is repeated at other inspection points manned by customs and Aksem.

There are instances where officers ask for the “name list” of passengers. The driver would hand over the papers with the bribe slipped in between. Money is also sometimes left in luggage subjected to inspection.

A travel company owner, who wanted to be known only as Saiful, said when he first started in the industry, he was left stranded several times at the border, presumably for thorough checks.

“Then, I was advised by seniors in the industry about this practice. Since then, we have the money on standby,” said the driver, who has been ferrying passengers for 30 years.

He said he was once detained for more than three hours at the Bukit Kayu Hitam CIQS Complex because he did not want to pay the bribe.

“My passengers looked at me with suspicion… Their trip back to Singapore was also delayed.”

The practice is in place at almost all Malaysian-Thai border checkpoints, he added.

Another tourist guide said he has lodged reports with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, and that his company is targeted by the authorities each time its vehicles go through the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint.

“I have lodged complaints twice, and as a result, the authorities detained my bus longer than necessary for checks.

“When this happens, there will be complaints from tourists who use our services, but I know the prolonged inspection is just to target us.” – June 23, 2019.

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Comments

  • Now we know how illegal cigarettes, alcohol drugs and weapons get through our border..very sad

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Good journalism- it makes a pleasant change from reports on what some minor rep from a backwater thinks Mahathir should or should not do.

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

    • Yes indeed. The only thing missing is the national security implications and a response (or attempt to get a statement) from the Home Ministry and the agencies mentioned above. Maybe TMI can do a follow-up article along these lines. Hope to see more high quality investigative journalism. A nice change from reports on press conferences in the Klang Valley and the like.

      Posted 6 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • So much hanky panky committed yet shameless to the core. Heaven bound konon, what a big joke.

    Posted 6 years ago by Butter Scotch · Reply

  • Despicable behaviour by those yang diamanahkan oleh rakyat to protect our borders, but not at all surprising. This has huge implications for national security. I am surprised this piece is not receiving the attention it deserves. Thank you TMI for this great piece of investigative journalism. Hope the authorities will follow up with their own investigation and take immediate action. Perhaps, TMI could contact the Home Ministry as well as the various agencies mentioned for comment?

    Posted 6 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

    • Think about it: A foreign army that wants to invade Malaysia just needs to get soldiers to come in disguised as tourists in buses and all the arms and ammunition they need stowed inside the bus, possibly disguised as 'goods'. (From the sound of it, there may not even be any need to 'hide' the arms.) For RM10 times a few buses, not only the northern border but the whole Peninsula is for sale and at a very cheap price. Why is there no response from the Home Ministry on this expos?

      Posted 6 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • The very people whom we entrusted to guard the border throw dirt into our faces to enrich themselves .

    WTF !

    Kalu dah kaki pau tu mmg makan duit haram kasi
    anak bini makan KFC or McD .

    Sebab tu anak tak jadi pandai2 n bini kaki lawan suami

    Posted 6 years ago by Jeb FOSTER · Reply

  • The very people whom we entrusted to guard the border throw dirt into our faces to enrich themselves .

    WTF !

    Kalu dah kaki pau tu mmg makan duit haram kasi
    anak bini makan KFC or McD .

    Sebab tu anak tak jadi pandai2 n bini kaki lawan suami

    Posted 6 years ago by Jeb FOSTER · Reply

  • The very people whom we entrusted to guard the border throw dirt into our faces to enrich themselves .

    WTF !

    Kalu dah kaki pau tu mmg makan duit haram kasi
    anak bini makan KFC or McD .

    Sebab tu anak tak jadi pandai2 n bini kaki lawan suami

    Posted 6 years ago by Jeb FOSTER · Reply

  • The very people whom we entrusted to guard the border throw dirt into our faces to enrich themselves .

    WTF !

    Kalu dah kaki pau tu mmg makan duit haram kasi
    anak bini makan KFC or McD .

    Sebab tu anak tak jadi pandai2 n bini kaki lawan suami

    Posted 6 years ago by Jeb FOSTER · Reply

  • I hope IGP Hamid Bador is reading this TMI piece. I beieve he must be seething and can't wait to make a swipe at the check point. I strongly believe too that all entry point into Malaysia from Immigartion to Customs are corrupted to the core. The Home Minister needs to buck up and not pretending that it is happening only now for Muhyddin is a season politician. His performance in all the portfolios that he has helmed are lacklustre. Like the saying goes if you can't chew it pass it along !!!!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply