Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) has never appointed any individual as an agent to handle immigration-related services, and all such matters must be conducted at the Immigration Office, said its Director-General, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban. He reminded all quarters not to be easily fooled by any offers or advertisements on social media promising ‘backdoor’ immigration services.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zakaria emphasized that JIM will not compromise and will continue to monitor and investigate social media accounts that are detected carrying out these fraudulent activities. Zakaria said the department takes seriously the activities of several social media accounts openly promoting services for travel in and out of Malaysia.

These fraudulent services include the removal of ‘blacklist’ status in the JIM system and applications for the Manpower Recalibration Programme, which do not exist for foreign nationals, including illegal immigrants. Investigations also revealed that the social media accounts were charging a certain fee for each service offered.

Zakaria confirmed, “This activity is confirmed as a form of fraud and an attempt to deceive the public by involving the Immigration Department to make illegal profits.” The MADANI government, through the Home Ministry and the Immigration Department, he said, would continue to intensify enforcement and monitoring efforts against illegal activities that could undermine public confidence in the country’s immigration system.