KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Mahmood Adam has been appointed Immigration Department director-general, replacing Datuk Abdul Wahid Md Don who has been transferred pending investigations into alleged corruption.

Mahmood was deputy Defence Ministry secretary-general (management). His appointment takes effect tomorrow.

The appointment was announced by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan yesterday.

Mohd Sidek also announced that the department's director of the Foreign Workers' Division, Abdul Rahman Othman, would be Mahmood's deputy, replacing Yusof Abu Bakar, who is also being probed by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

Wahid and Yusof were arrested on July 11 and 12.
Both have been released on bail and have been transferred to the Public Service Department.

Wahid was alleged to have received money in exchange for issuing work visas to foreigners while Yusof had allegedly received payments to approve extended passes for tourists who had overstayed.

They were among at least a dozen people detained in both cases.

Mahmood, 55, began his career in May 1981.

He has a bachelor's degree in international relations.

Abdul Rahman entered the civil service in January 1986 and has a Master's in safety studies.