PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today told the Immigration Department to work as a team and continue making improvements to avoid repeating old mistakes that tarnished the image of the agency.
The unity government, said Anwar, which is committed to carrying out reforms for the country's progress, could not afford to have one of its team members stuck in its old ways and corrupt practices.
He said improvement and progress was necessary not only to enable the nation to move forward but also to safeguard Malaysia's good image among foreign tourists and the global community.
"If there are practices that are deemed as not right (going against the laws and principles of good governance), let us correct them.
"We must be 'clean' (free the country from corruption and abuse of power) in order for us to save the country.
"Let us strive to find the best ways to improve our performance.
"Expectations and hopes are high like a mountain for the unity government. This means, we must move forward and cannot stay complacent," said Anwar in his speech at the Aidilfitri Madani open house organised by the Immigration Department here today.
Present were Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah and Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.
Present was the prime minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
"Instead of making excuses, let us take responsibility and accept constructive criticism.
"We should not give excuses if we are the ones who are not efficient. That is why people have to wait between two and three hours. This is a challenge for us.
"Let us not take things personally when someone gives constructive criticism such as the incident that happened last year," he said.
Although Anwar did not explicitly identify the incident, it is believed he was referring to the claim made by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing that there was a "culture of corruption" within the department's handling of arrivals of foreign visitors at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). (hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/925892/tiong-fights-back-accu...)
Recalling his recent remarks made to the department, Anwar said that while his views were sometimes firm, they were not directed at the entire department's workforce since the majority of them fulfil their duties diligently.
"Those of you who carry out your responsibilities well should not feel offended by criticism.
"Instead, you should support efforts to resolve (past) mistakes, although it only involved a small group (in the department) that tarnished the image that the Immigration Department is striving to uphold," he said.
Anwar, however, noted that Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi, Ruslin and his team at the Immigration Department were making efforts and taking all the necessary steps to address the existing weaknesses.
Earlier this month at the Home Ministry's Aidilfitri celebration, Anwar had reprimanded the department over congestion issues at the country's borders, particularly in airports.
Describing the rebuke as akin to "parental love" to improve congestion issues at counters handling entry of tourists, Anwar said tourists would not accept excuses for delays, and hoped the issue could be dealt with effectively.
