THERE are elements of corruption at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) arrival hall, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing said.

Tiong said this after he was recorded being at the centre of a commotion at the airport recently.

“My presence uncovered a culture of corruption by a few officials and chronic abuse of power,” he said in a statement.

Tiong said he would be providing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission with details.

Earlier today, Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook said airport authorities were investigating an incident involving a minister who had allegedly barged into the arrival hall without a pass to help a Chinese national who was being detained.

Bebas News reported that the minister allegedly caused a commotion by entering the international arrival hall to help a Chinese citizen who was denied entry into the country.

The minister then allegedly scolded KLIA auxiliary policemen and Immigration officers while trying to help the Chinese national.

Tiong, however, denied that he was there to secure the release of the foreigner.

“I have no authority for that, and I would only damage my own reputation if I did so,” he said.

Tiong said Immigration officers were charging as much as RM3,000 to release travellers they had detained.

“An additional RM3,000 is required if you want to return to your home country immediately through a ‘special route’ while RM12,000 is for the cost of processing a visa,” he said.

“I will raise this matter in the cabinet, including the proposal to do away with the agent who handles foreign tourists who are refused entry into the country.” – June 30, 2023.