JPA said Shafiq had rightly reprimanded the immigration officer, James Lee, over non-compliance with procedures after he failed to check the director-general and his delegation’s travel documents and passports.

The department said the officer at KLIA had allowed them to head directly to the customs checkpoint to continue their journey.

“The failure to check travellers’ immigration documents like passports is a serious offence under the law. In fact, the officer who did not follow foreign travel immigration rules could face disciplinary action.

“JPA would also like to stress that the officer was not reprimanded in front of the general public. In fact, the director-general had advised the officer to follow the rules and resolve the matter prudently.

“He also recommended that the immigration department at KLIA should improve its SOP compliance to avoid any non-compliance among officers,” it said in a statement.

The department expressed regret over the “false statements” being spread on social media by certain parties, urging for the relevant authorities to investigate the matter.

Bernama reported that the immigration officer on duty yesterday morning was berated in public by a senior government official because no officers were stationed at the VIP room’s counter when the official arrived.

A union for immigration department staff had demanded a public apology from the JPA director-general over the incident.

Home minister Hamzah Zainudin said the immigration department had been instructed to conduct an investigation into the allegations.