LAHAD DATU: Two Immigration Department staff have been detained to assist investigations on the smuggling of Bangladeshis via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when confirming this, said the two were not high ranking or senior officers but 'those tending the counters' at the airport.
A probe is ongoing and more are expected to be uncovered, he told reporters after a working visit here where he was briefed on the State's security developments.
"I have directed Immigration director-general (Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali) to tighten up monitoring at check points especialy in KLIA.
"We will replace the group suspected to be involved, with others (officers)... At the same time, we will add more immigration officers from other offices to be deployed to KLIA (operations)," he added.
An exclusive report by Harian Metro on December 7 revealed syndicates controlled by Bangladeshis made RM5.2 million annually from smuggling their countrymen through KLIA.
Earlier, Zahid said the closed-door briefing involving the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and other authorities like Rela was a follow up to the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) advisory board meeting which was last held in September.
He said the proposed pilot group of 500 Rela members to be absorbed as second-liners to safeguard Esszone, will become operational next month.
"We are arranging them right now, mobilisation has actually taken place and operations are expected first of January," he added.
Zahid during the last Esszone advisory board meeting held at Esscom's headquarters, revealed plans to engage over 6,000 Rela members from the 10 districts under Esszone for this purpose, but said re-training was needed to better equip them.
"The federal government has approved a special allocation to Rela, not only to procure uniforms, equipment and other assets but also in terms of operational expenditure for Rela members," Zahid explained.
He also said the government plans to continue deploying security agencies under Esscom to monitor safety at resorts in the area.
Meanwhile, Zahid said a huge celebration will be planned in Lahad Datu on March 5 next year to commemorate Esscom's five-year anniversary.
"It is also to remind everyone that ensuring security is the government's top priority," he said.