Stamp it out: 'Flying passports' a serious national security threat, says ex-officer

New Straits Times

7 days ago

JOHOR BARU: The "flying passport", which refers to the practice of bypassing border controls, undermines national security and credibility, a former high-ranking Immigration Department officer told the New Straits Times.
It refers to the situation where a foreign passport is cleared by immigration enforcement officers without the holder being present at the checkpoint. Thus, they are able to obtain entry and exit stamps without ever leaving their country.
Typically, the modus operandi involves the passport being handed over to a third party — often for a fee — who physically transports it across the border to be stamped by immigration officers.
The entire process can cost between RM500 and RM2,000, depending on the route, risk and urgency.
The veteran, who also had a stint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said if left unchecked, this ruse could open the door to transnational crime, including human trafficking and terrorism.
The veteran, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said this was a clear manipulation of border records.
"It not only circumvents immigration laws but also exposes the country to far more serious threats.
"The modus operandi is simple, yet troubling: a foreigner hands over their passport to a third party, often an agent or a 'runner', who then physically transports the document across an international border — typically via land — to be stamped by immigration officers without the presence of the passport holder.
"Once stamped, the passport is flown or returned by courier to its original owner, who now holds a document that suggests legal cross-border movement."
The veteran said this ruse had quietly flourished in parts of Southeast Asia, raising red flags on immigration integrity, border security and systemic abuse.
On Saturday, four immigration enforcement officers attached to the Johor Customs, Immigrations and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar were arrested for allegedly stamping passports without the holders being physically present at a Malaysia-Singapore land border checkpoint.
The "flying passport" operation typically involves collusion with rogue officers or loopholes in border protocols.
The practice has been reported between countries with open or porous land borders, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and, in the past, Singapore.
For Malaysia, repeated incidents of "flying passports" can attract scrutiny from partners such as Singapore, Japan and the European Union.
Some foreign workers use this method to bypass overstay penalties, renew tourist visas indefinitely or dodge biometric registration — making it harder for authorities to monitor undocumented employment and tax leakage.