KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Three individuals, including two immigration officers, were detained during two separate operations in Johor and Sabah on Monday and Wednesday, for their alleged involvement in the abuse of the online Malaysian passport application facility. Immigration director general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said that during a raid on a residential premises in Simpang Renggam, Johor, authorities detained a man believed to be involved in providing false declarations to obtain Malaysian passports. Both are immigration officers believed to have acted as the main masterminds and "facilitators" for the syndicate. "Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate's modus operandi was to offer International Malaysian Passport (PMA) renewal services online to Malaysians abroad without following established procedures. Authorities also seized two Malaysian passports and online application documents believed to be directly linked to the syndicate's activities.

Source: The Edge Markets January 22, 2026 10:25 UTC