PUTRAJAYA, The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has formed a special task force to investigate allegations of misconduct involving a medical visa syndicate that has been issuing visas to foreign nationals from several countries.
In a statement today, the EAIC announced that the task force, established under subsection 17(1) of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009 [Act 700], is led by EAIC Commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Razali Ab Malik.
Based on the findings of a preliminary investigation presented during the 9/2024 Commission Meeting, a decision was made to conduct a thorough probe into suspicious activities linked to the syndicate, using seized documents as key evidence, it said.
‘This action is aimed at ensuring that the medical visa approval process for foreign nationals is carried out with full integrity, while safeguarding national security,’ the statement read.
The EAIC also called on the public with any information related to the investigation to contact its investigation
officer at 019-2325569.
On Oct 8, the EAIC seized 156 files related to applications for Social Visit Passes (Medical Treatment Pass category), believed to be connected to the medical visa syndicate allegedly involving officers from the Immigration Department (JIM).
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban confirmed that EAIC officers had visited the JIM headquarters to conduct further investigations into alleged integrity violations involving department officers.
Zakaria said the department has handed over the investigation to the EAIC and is taking the issue seriously, reaffirming its commitment to upholding integrity among its personnel, in line with the department’s main focus to enhance governance, administration, discipline and integrity to restore its image and reputation.
Previous media reports revealed theat the syndicate had allegedly been operating for a considerable period, granting medical visas to foreign nationals under the pretext of seeking medical treatment in Malaysia.
Source
: BERNAMA News Agency