DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND CRIMINALS.
IS MALAYSIA A MAGNET ?
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.
