Zahid told a press conference here that about 40 per cent of the department’s 1,500 officers in KLIA were transferred following the exposure of a smuggling syndicate. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 15 — Hundreds of Immigration officers have been transferred from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) duties following the exposure of a smuggling syndicate involving the department’s personnel.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today that around 600 officers were moved to other Immigration departments outside KLIA as a “proactive” step to maintain the department’s reputation, amidst the dismantling of the syndicate allegedly smuggling in Bangladeshi nationals.

Zahid told a press conference here that about 40 per cent of the department’s 1,500 officers in KLIA were transferred.

He also announced today that two more Immigration officers have been arrested over the smuggling syndicate, in addition to the two arrested earlier.

Three more foreign nationals were also arrested, bringing total arrests to seven people.

“There were two who were arrested earlier on, and the others were arrested yesterday,” Zahid said.

Zahid stressed that he did not want the reputation and integrity of the department to be painted in a bad light due to smuggling incidents.

“We don’t want the whole department image to be affected because of one or two bad apples,” he said, while praising Immigration Director General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali for taking stern proactive action after the matter was exposed.

“We should focus on the good work the department is doing, like the processing of passports, which can now be done in just one hour,” he added.