Gerakan has urged all government enforcement agencies to follow the example of the Immigration Department in taking quick disciplinary action against its officers for inadequacy.

Penang Gerakan secretary-general Ong Thean Lye said yesterday that transferring the officers out from their posts is “a nip in the bud.”

“We welcome such a positive signal from the department that it would not tolerate inefficiency or lack of urgency by its officers when carrying out their duties,” said Ong in a statement.

Ong was commenting on newspaper reports yesterday that the assistant director of immigration heading the operations at the Penang International Airport and 12 officers had been transferred out following Monday’s foul-out which left Hong Kong-bound passengers stranded for 55 minutes.

The reports quoted State Immigration director Abdul Rahman Harun as saying that Fatimah Hashim and the officers were transferred to other sections on a 24-hour notice effective Wednesday.

“This is the group on duty that particular morning and action has to be taken against them. We hope this will be a lesson to the rest so that the same mistake will not recur,” he said.

Passengers on flight AK5052, scheduled to leave at 6am on Monday, were shocked to find no immigration officers at their posts until 5.55am.

Ong commended the director for doing the right thing as expected by the public that is to resolve problems and not to give lame excuses to protect errant officers.

“Gerakan hopes other enforcement bodies and agencies will emulate this good example.” said Ong.