Strict action if passport issuance fraud is detected, said Saifuddin
KLUANG: The government will emphasize integrity in processing and issuing Malaysian international passports to prevent document forgery.
According to Berita Harian, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that this measure is to ensure that Malaysian international passports do not fall into the hands of foreigners.
He stated that if there is any fraud in the issuance of passports, action will be taken under the Immigration Act as such acts are illegal.
“We know that Malaysian passports are recognized as among the top 10 in the world, and they are of interest to certain parties.
“What makes our passports highly valuable is that the application process involves strict screening until the document is issued.
“However, if fraudulent methods are used in processing passports, we will eventually detect them. That is why we will emphasize the integrity of the process that must be followed to obtain a passport,” he said.
He made these remarks after attending the Inspirasi Malaysia (IM) Program at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tengku Aris Bendahara today.
Also present were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
According to Saifuddin Nasution, due to the stringent passport issuance process, there are certain elements or efforts to obtain them through improper means.
Yesterday, the Kedah Immigration Department detained a Sri Lankan man who used another individual’s Malaysian international passport to exit the country.
The 21-year-old suspect was arrested at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex (ICQS) while attempting to cross the Thai border using a passport belonging to another person named Raja Danny Denis.
Inspection revealed that the passport used was invalid, and the suspect violated Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) by entering and staying in Malaysia without valid documents.
The suspect is now detained under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) and is temporarily held at the Kedah Immigration Enforcement Unit lockup for investigation and further action.
This case is the fourth detected in Kedah this year, all involving Sri Lankan nationals.
The first case was detected on January 24 when a Malaysian couple was detained while attempting to apply for a passport for a Sri Lankan boy at the Kulim Immigration Office.