The Immigration Department has set up a Malaysian Immigration special investigations board to investigate the case involving two Singaporean nationals who were arrested for not having valid passes/stamp when entering Malaysia on June 9.

NONE Director-general of Immigration Alias Ahmad (right) said the board would be chaired by his deputy director-general (control), Raja Mohd Raja Ismail.

Members of the board would also comprise the department's enforcement division director Mohd Zamberi Abdul Aziz, three senior Immigration Department officers and representatives from the Royal Malaysian Police and Prisons Department.

"The three main aspects the board will focus on are to ascertain whether the arrests were valid, whether it was done according to the law and regulations or whether the incident was due to the officer's sheer neglect," Alias said in statement yesterday.

The report on the investigation was expected to be ready in a week and based on the findings, the board would propose some improvement methods to be taken by the department.

He said initial investigations found that the arrest of the two Singaporean nationals was valid and done according to the department's standard operating procedures.

"However, the Immigration Department is viewing this issue seriously and actions will be taken to improve the weaknesses in the department's regulations and procedures, if any," Alias added.

- Bernama

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