Home minister Hamzah Zainudin said this cartel involved immigration department officers at various levels.

The cartel’s officers collaborated with outside syndicates to issue the permits, he told a press conference in conjunction with Immigration Day 2021.

Hamzah said deputy home minister Jonathan Yasin had sent him an advertisement from Sabah recently asking anyone who wanted a permit to meet with these people.

“This is something that is very irresponsible,” he said.

He warned that the ministry would not hesitate to take action against officers found to be working with these syndicates.

Hamzah said an investigation is being carried out to identify the officers involved as their activities had marred the image of the country.

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