KUALA LUMPUR – The detention of 27 Immigration Department officers in a nightclub raid has led to explosive allegations from Bersatu Supreme Council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who questioned whether “invisible hands” are protecting the officers.
He demanded the home minister to confirm whether disciplinary action has been taken or if systemic protectionism is at play.
On Thursday, Scoop reported that the officers, detained during a raid conducted by Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) at Mansion 9 nightclub in April 2024, were later released after testing negative for drugs.
However, their presence at the high-risk venue breached the Immigration Department’s standing directive, which explicitly prohibits officers from frequenting entertainment outlets and other locations that could harm the department’s image.
“The directive issued by the Immigration director on November 18, 2019, clearly states that Immigration officers are prohibited from going to high-risk areas such as entertainment outlets because it can ‘bring a negative image to the Immigration Department when there are raids by other enforcement agencies,’” Wan Saiful said on his Facebook post today, which included attachments of the directive and a snippet of Scoop’s report.
The Tasek Gelugor MP highlighted the seriousness of the disciplinary breach, questioning why there has been no confirmed action against the 27 officers.
“The home minister, who is responsible for the Immigration Department, must review whether it is true that no strict action has been taken against these 27 officers. Even if no criminal offence was committed, the breach of discipline is clear,” he said.
Wan Saiful further questioned whether higher-ups or political figures were shielding the officers from accountability.
“If such a clear breach of discipline still does not result in disciplinary action, it raises the question of whether there are invisible hands or cartels involving senior officers or political figures protecting them,” he added.
Scoop previously reported that sources said the case had been referred to the Immigration Department’s disciplinary division.
However, no updates have been provided on the status of the officers, sparking public concern about a lack of transparency.
While Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban has recently reaffirmed the department’s commitment to accountability and integrity, Wan Saiful’s remarks suggest that disciplinary enforcement remains inconsistent.
“What action has been taken against the Immigration officers who went to the nightclub and were subsequently arrested by the police?” Wan Saiful asked, calling on Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to address the issue directly and restore public confidence.
The nightclub raid occurred in April 2024, during which 161 individuals were detained. The nightclub’s owner, Alvin Goh, is a controversial figure who has a history of criminal investigations, and was also arrested for employing an undocumented worker. – January 12, 2025