DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND CRIMINALS. IS MALAYSIA A MAGNET ?

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By Norman C Sukumaran

The Malaysian public owes an immense gratitude to the Royal Malaysian Customs officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for their relentless apprehension of drugs traffickers trying to smuggle drugs into the country.

Tueday’s NST reported that about RM22.7 million worth of drugs were seized by the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Customs from January to June this year. According to Kuala Lumpur Customs Department Director Badaruddin Mohamad Rafik drugs weighing 138.98 kg and 897 pills were seized at KLIA and at the LCCT alone.

On the same day, the Star reported the news about a Nigerian drug–mule who was arrested at the LCCT with 400gm of syabu in capsules which she had swallowed. The drugs had a street value of RM98,000. Also reported was about the arrest of a Romanian man who tried to smuggle 3.29kg of syabu worth at least RM824,000 and an Indian man who was caught with 2.89kg of ketamine with a street value of RM114,000.

Now, what is the response from our Home Affairs Minister aka Menteri Amaran Dalam  Negeri?

Well, there you have it.

Seriously, it is as though the floodgates have been breached  and word has gotten out that Malaysia allows the easiest and unimpeded entry to criminals, suspicious tourists and dubious international post. They are all coming to Malaysia – the South Americans, the Nigerians and other Africans, Iranians, they are all making a beeline to Malaysia.

Despite having studied and graduated from Australia and having close family ties with Australia, on my recent trip to Australia, the immigration officers still spend a little time asking me about the purpose of visit, proof of my occupation and why I made a short trip to New Zealand before coming to Australia. In fact the embarkation card has a question “Do you have any criminal offence”? Now, after more than a century of Australian nationhood, I didn’t realize it is still a pre-requisite !.

The Malaysian public deserves better from the government and perhaps the Prime Minister should seriously look into the influx of suspicious tourists and dubious international students coming in droves to Malaysia. To continue to assign this task to Hishammuddin is a lost cause.

Another question is don’t the immigration officers vet at the entry point the arriving international visitor to confirm that he has a legitimate purpose wanting to come to Malaysia. Don’t the immigration officers ask his travel itenary, whether he has sufficient fund and if he is coming to apply to study whether he has the sufficient means. Or is it a case of “ all can come, no questions asked” policy.  Maybe, the immigration department and its officers ought to watch the program “Border Security” on Astro as to how the Australian immigration and custom officers deal with arriving passengers.

The government should also regularly review the entry free visa for countries whose citizens are becoming a menace and a security threat to the country. Make them apply for visa before they are allowed entry and vet thoroughly their application. Remember, how United Kingdom after seeing the high level of Malaysian overstayers wanted to impose visa before entry rule for Malaysians. A 45 year old Nigerian who expresses his desire to study English or for the matter Business Studies surely must trigger suspicion.

Malaysia having lost the fight against Indonesians overstayers and illegals cannot now become a haven for Africans, Iranians and South Americans whose sole purpose to enter Malaysia is for criminal purpose.