PUTRAJAYA, Nov 25 — The upgrade of Grade 54 to Grade Jusa B is among the Immigration Department's (JIM) considerations in streamlining the staffing structure and improving the career development of the Immigration Services Scheme (KP), said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
This will be followed by other grades including Jusa C, and the number of staffing positions for the KP scheme will also be expanded to other strategic positions like the state director, division director, and Immigration Attache.
"The Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) is concerned about career development for KP. Several series of discussions have been held with the ministry and the Public Service Department to discuss better career opportunities for this scheme and are now in the final stage.
"Currently, the highest position in the KP scheme is at grade 54," he told the press after attending the KDN Monthly Assembly today.
Saifuddin added that KDN is also working to apply for new positions consisting of various grades and schemes to meet the needs at service counters and entry points and to increase the supervisory grade from KP22 to KP26 and KP28 in line with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)'s recommendation regarding supervision issues.
In addition, there has also been a proposal to create an Integrated Immigration Scheme by combining the Immigration Services Scheme and the Integrated Scheme for Assistant Immigration Superintendents or Immigration Superintendents.
On September 18, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki reportedly proposed several contexts for improving the JIM's duties, especially at the country's entry points.
He said the 'counter setting' syndicate occurred due to weaknesses in internal control aspects while on duty which made Immigration officers easy to approach by agents and syndicates as well as unsystematic workplace rotation.
Other factors included a lack of monitoring and supervision as well as loopholes in working methods, and a system of inspection on the entry of foreigners which is easy to manipulate and difficult to review.
In a recent special interview with Bernama, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said that promotion efforts in the civil service are being implemented and were currently focused on the Immigration Department before being expanded to other civil services.
— Bernama
