PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department has set four key focuses – integrity, enforcement, humanity, and adaptation of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its reform agenda and to improve the department’s public image in 2026.
Immigration director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said this is important to address any negative perception of the department, including issues such as corruption and service delivery weaknesses.
He said efforts to strengthen integrity and enforcement will be done comprehensively, apart from enhancing humanitarian values among the staff when dealing with the public.
“The department will also accelerate digitalisation and the use of AI in its dealings to boost efficiency and service quality for the people,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters at the department’s 2026 New Year address at the Dewan Serbaguna Imigresen here today.
In his speech to immigration personnel earlier, Zakaria said the department would boost the level of checks on foreigners who have allegedly begun to dominate certain economic sectors and geographic locations, which has caused unease among locals.
He said that last year, around 90,000 foreigners were arrested for various immigration offences, underscoring the department’s seriousness in tackling the spread of migrants in the country.
Zakaria also stressed that he would not compromise on any wrongdoing by his personnel.
“We have previously issued warnings and reminders. This is no longer the time for memos. Any staff found to have committed offences would be subjected to strict action, including dismissal,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
