Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki said the woman’s friend, who is also from China, went back with her today.

“Both of them returned to China today,” Azam told the media here.

Azam said MACC had recorded statements from at least 14 individuals regarding last Friday’s incident, including the two women and eight immigration officers. He confirmed that tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing also had his statement recorded.

He said based on the agency’s investigation, the two women came to Malaysia as tourists.

Azam said an agent who allegedly solicited a fee to help the woman after she was allegedly prohibited entry into Malaysia is linked to a company based at KLIA.

He said the company had been given a contract by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to manage travellers slapped with the immigration department’s “Not to Land” (NTL) notice since 2017.

On the day of the incident, a total of 41 NTL notices were issued by the immigration department.

MACC is in the midst of tracking down the agent, who is believed to be a foreigner. Azam said MACC will also record a statement from the company in the near future.

“We have to thoroughly investigate whether the contract given to this company is something that is allowed by the government,” he said.

Last Friday, Tiong admitted to being in a commotion with immigration officers at KLIA after he attempted to intervene in a case where a Chinese national was allegedly prohibited entry into Malaysia.

Tiong claimed his visit to the airport had exposed a “culture of corruption by a few officials and the chronic abuse of power”.

Yesterday, an MACC source said the anti-graft agency had recorded the statements of a minister and two Chinese nationals over the incident.

The MACC source also said the anti-graft agency was tracking down an individual who acted as an agent and allegedly solicited bribes amounting to RM18,000 to resolve such cases.