JAKARTA - Johor Immigration has removed visible counter numbers at southern Malaysian entry points after identifying syndicates that allegedly directed undocumented migrants to specific immigration lanes, state immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said in a report on Malaysia’s state-owned agency Bernama published on May 23. 

The change affects clearance points used by travellers entering Malaysia through Johor’s air, sea and border facilities. The method is known locally as “counter-setting”.

Mohd Rusdi said syndicates gave travellers instructions before arrival, telling them to approach a particular numbered counter where an officer had allegedly been arranged to process illegal entry. The agency reported that the measure was introduced with entry-point operators, including Senai International Airport and sea terminal management. 

“The syndicates would instruct these travellers, for example, ‘once you get off the plane, head straight to counter seven’,” Mohd Rusdi said. “As a countermeasure, we took the bold step of removing all counter numbers at our entry points.” 

Johor is one of Malaysia’s highest-volume border states. Johor Immigration’s own 2024 annual report lists 14 official entry points, made up of three land inspection points, ten sea inspection points and one air entry point at Senai International Airport. The land points include Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar and Woodlands Train Checkpoint. 

The border-integrity concern is also documented in official anti-corruption records. A 2024 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission report said an immigration officer was charged in Johor Bahru over alleged bribes totalling RM55,150 to facilitate the unlawful entry of Indonesian nationals through Senai International Airport. 

The report said the operation involved 11 immigration officers and two syndicate agents, with 700 Indonesian nationals allegedly entering Malaysia through “counter setting” between August 2022 and February 2024. 

Mohd Rusdi said the counter-number measure had produced positive results at Johor’s main air terminal, which he said was now recording zero cases and no complaints linked to the misconduct. He added that 20 officers faced disciplinary action in 2025 over counter-setting activities, and five others were penalised over flying passport offences.

Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority said on May 22 that more than 2 million travellers crossed Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the Labour Day long weekend from April 30 to May 3, with traffic peaking at close to 580,000 travellers on April 30.