TOUR bus and van drivers, who have been freely offering bribes to border authorities, have been accused of fuelling the corrupt practice at the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah just to save time.

Border Security Agency (Aksem) commander Abd Latif Abdul Rahman told The Malaysian Insight that while his agency has been coming down hard on corruption among officers, tour operators continue to encourage such practices.

He was responding to a report by The Malaysian Insight about tour buses and vans being given easy access without any check from border authorities for a RM10 bribe per vehicle.

The tour operators interviewed said they were forced to pay, or risk having their vehicles stalled for inspection which could sometimes take hours. Up to 150 tour buses go through the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint daily.

However, Latif told The Malaysian Insight that this practice of bribing just to save time must stop with the tour operators themselves.

“Those who are giving the money are the ones who are really destroying the country. Prevention should start with the giver. These operators are like termites, destroying the nation slowly.

“They don’t want their vehicles checked so they give bribes and drive away,” Latif said.

He said Aksem personnel have been reminded many times not to take bribes as they could jeopardise national security as illegal goods, such as firearms could be brought in.

Aksem comprises the police, Customs, Immigration, the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services and others.

Latiff said tour operators should bring the issue of bribery up with the Aksem headquarters and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if indeed officers are seeking bribes.

“These incidents may have happened two or three years ago… If there’s such a thing, I am open, take pictures and report it to the MACC.

“Let MACC come down or report these incidents directly to me. I can carry out spot checks at the border,” said Latiff, adding that personnel found to have taken bribes will be removed instantly from border security work.

To curb smuggling among officers, personnel who meet directly with the crowd coming in must not have more than RM50 in their pockets while on duty, he said.

They had to declare the amount to their supervisors if they have brought in more money to work.

Latif said this made it easy for the authorities to nab errant officers.

He said all the agencies under Aksem had their own internal team to deal with corrupt officers, just like the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department in the police force. – June 25, 2019