The department is fully committed to tackling all issues involving the integrity of its officers, he said in a statement responding to the arrest of five officers earlier this week for suspected involvement in a syndicate smuggling Filipino migrants into the country.

“The immigration department will work closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the national registration department and the police to ensure there’s no migrant influx in the country,” he told Berita Harian.

MACC said five officers aged between 30 and 41 were arrested on Thursday with four others believed to be agents for undocumented migrants from neighbouring countries.

The MACC said the syndicate forced each migrant to pay RM2,500 in order to leave Sabah for West Malaysia through Tawau airport. The syndicate would also supply them with authentic MyKads and boarding passes, only clearing them to depart from the airport once they had paid the bribe.