Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) is conducting an investigation into allegations of ‘phantom travel’ syndicate activities at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, AKPS announced in a statement that the investigation focuses on the involvement of officers allegedly collaborating with a syndicate. This syndicate reportedly uses a method of not recording the movements of visitors entering the country at entry points and charges a fee to allow travelers, particularly civil servants, to evade tracking by their employers.

The statement emphasized that AKPS will not protect any officer involved in integrity breaches that harm the agency’s reputation. It further assured that action and punishment will be enforced based on legal provisions, including dismissal if an officer is found guilty.

AKPS also mentioned its collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Immigration Department to enhance visitor screening processes at entry points, especially at KLIA. This includes the implementation of ‘autogates’ and the development of the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) using artificial intelligence technology. AKPS believes these measures will help reduce and eliminate issues related to counter setting, flying passports, and phantom travel involving officers.

A local media portal recently exposed the existence of a ‘phantom travel’ syndicate at KLIA, allegedly involving government employees traveling abroad without their travel details being recorded in immigration records. The report detailed that the syndicate’s method involved travelers using a special counter, guarded by officers in collusion with the syndicate.