Corruption in immigration sector has become prominent in Malaysia.

Seven people were arrested in Malaysia for their involvement in corruption acts.  Domestic media brought the issue to limelight and it was revealed that a top immigration officer was one of the seven people that were arrested.  News agency Bernama, later specified the cause of the arrest stating that the seven people were suspected of being involved in issuing visas to foreign workers in an illegal manner.  

It should be noted that Malaysia is the destination for cheap labor coming from the sub-continent nations in search of jobs.  In the count of the huge number of immigrant workers in Malaysia, almost two million are legal, whereas, more than seventy thousand are working illegally.  These illegal migrants are able to live easily there because they give bribes to prevent their ouster from Malaysia.  

Report of ACA

The anti corruption Agency (ACA) revealed that the seven people arrested were all between the age group of thirty-five and sixty-four.  They were arrested near Kuala Lumpur.  Mohammed Shukri Abdullah, who is the director of ACA, said that these seven people were held because it was needed to proceed with the investigation properly.  He also said that a total of $154,200 (almost 500000 ringgit) has been seized from the seven suspects.  

In order to shake up the judicial and to handle corruption more efficiently, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, had announced a sweeping reform.  Under the proposed plan, the ACA would have the power to act as an independent body and report directly to the prime minister.  Earlier, ACA had been criticized for its inefficiency in handling politically sensitive cases.  

The fact that there is a lot of corruption in the immigration department of Malaysia is something that needs a lot of thinking and plans to be implemented.  Therefore, a right step is needed in this direction to ensure the end of the corruption.