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SHAH ALAM - Pas Youth has urged that attention on the circulation of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) recording involving Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Director-General should not overshadow broader questions concerning security and enforcement integrity at the country’s entry points.
Its chief, Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, said the circulation of the recording had triggered various reactions among the public, but attention should not stop at the few seconds of footage that went viral.
Instead, he said, greater and more serious questions needed to be addressed, particularly those concerning the level of security, integrity and the possibility of leaks within the enforcement system at the country’s entry points.
“The matter is now under investigation by the authorities. Therefore, we do not want to pre-empt the investigation or pass judgment on any party.
“But at the same time, we cannot turn a blind eye to the bigger questions concerning the level of security, integrity and the possibility of leaks within the enforcement system at the country’s entry points,” he said in a statement on Friday.
He said, based on Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain's explanation, the incident occurred on Sept 28 during an enforcement operation against a foreign national suspected of being involved in an illegal airport touting (ulat) operation at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
During the operation, he said, questions arose over the presence of an individual who was not part of the enforcement team at the scene and who recorded the incident.
Afnan said Pas Youth did not want to pre-empt the investigation or pass judgment on any party over the matter.
However, he said, attention must also be given to threats to the security of the country’s entry points and borders.
“AKPS itself has previously revealed an increase in enforcement action against smuggling activities. As of this year, the value of seizures and government revenue leakages addressed by AKPS has reportedly exceeded RM265 million, compared with RM80 million the previous year.
“Attempts to smuggle drugs through airports have also reportedly been detected frequently,” he said.
He said the figures showed that threats to the country’s entry points and borders must be taken seriously.
In this regard, he said Pas Youth supported every professional and integrity-driven effort by AKPS and all enforcement agencies to rid the country’s entry points of smuggling, corruption, abuse of power, entry by undocumented foreign nationals and all forms of cross-border crime.
“We also appreciate Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily’s firmness in efforts to strengthen AKPS enforcement.
“At the same time, all allegations related to the viral incident must be investigated independently, transparently and fairly. No one should be above the law,” he said.
Afnan said efforts to clean up the country’s entry points should not stop simply because of one controversy.
If there were officers, middlemen, syndicates or any parties colluding to leak operations, protect syndicates, facilitate smuggling or illegally bring in foreign nationals, he said, they must be identified, investigated and brought to justice in accordance with the law.
He said Pas Youth, through its Members of Parliament, would continue to raise questions concerning border security and enforcement integrity in the Dewan Rakyat during the upcoming sitting.
“We want the Government to explain the extent to which these syndicates have infiltrated the country’s enforcement system, what weaknesses still exist at international entry points and what comprehensive measures are being taken to ensure enforcement personnel cannot be influenced or exploited by syndicates,” he said.
Afnan, who is also the Alor Setar Member of Parliament, said Pas Youth would also continue to monitor information, reports and disclosures from the public, former personnel and witnesses concerning any allegations of misconduct that could threaten national security.
He said any information with a credible basis should be submitted to the authorities for professional investigation.
“This issue is bigger than one CCTV recording. It is about who is guarding our country’s borders. It is about the integrity of our institutions. And most importantly, it is about Malaysia’s sovereignty,” he said.
Afnan said attention on the viral recording should not cause questions about what is happening behind the country’s entry points to be overlooked.
