Enhance use of online technology, services to curb corruption - Ahmad Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) to enhance the use of online technology and services to counter corruption.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister (KDN), said the frontline of the department, that dealt with various levels of society including foreigners, should reduce the human touch with the use of technology rather than conventional systems.

He said the prohibition of Foreign Workers Division at the KDN from dealing face-to-face with any individual who usually acted as intermediary for foreign workers-related matters was seen to be able to limit the elements of corruption despite slight inconvenience.

"The implementation of online services does not mean that JIM is avoiding direct interaction with the community but the move should be implemented to curb corruption," he said in his speech at the Malaysian Immigration Department- Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Anti-Corruption Pledge (IBR) ceremony here today.

Also present at the IBR event that was streamed live at all JIM offices, both here and abroad, were Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali and MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Azam Baki.

Ahmad Zahid said the implementation of online services and the use of technology would expedite the process of applications that had previously been conducted face-to-face with staff in the office that could cause congestion whenever too many customers turned up.

He also wanted JIM to increase people's credibility as the main agenda rather than relying on rankings, based on corruption indexes produced by international rating agencies.

JIM personnel should also inculcate a desire to refrain from receiving any gift for any particular purpose because in the end, the gift would become a trap to the receivers, he said.

Ahmad Zahid also praised JIM's move, efforts and reforms since the appointment of Mustafar as it began reducing human touch elements in certain services such as the online acquisition and renewal of passports via MyOnline Passport.

"The situation in which the Immigration department is often linked to negative acts has gradually changed since Datuk Seri Mustafar took over the department and with his presence here, knowing that he was from the MACC, I am convinced that he is highly committed to any effort to fight corruption," he said.

Mustafar, who was formerly the deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) of the MACC, was appointed to the post in August last year.

-- BERNAMA