CORRUPTION TIME-BOMB AT IMMIGRATION – ANTHONY LOKE CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO ENTRY PROCEDURES – WHILE ANOTHER ASSOCIATION REVEALS HOW LESS THAN A MONTH, IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS HAD PULLED A SIMILAR STUNT TO EXTORT BRIBES FROM ANOTHER GROUP OF CHINESE TRAVELLERS
Fine-tuning of entry procedures needed, says Loke in wake of Immigration incident
BATANG KALI: Further discussions are needed to improve the immigration procedures for foreign tourists entering Malaysia, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said that the findings from the alleged instance of corruption at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will be discussed at Cabinet level, as mentioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a surprise visit to the Immigration and Customs counters at KLIA on Sunday (July 2).
“Issues involving integrity warrant serious attention as we do not want our country’s image to be tarnished, especially among tourists.
“For Malaysia, which has a big tourism industry, image is very important and we don’t want tourists to have any bad experiences.
“At the same time, I stress that there is no compromise on national security but we need a balance to ensure our entry points are still tourist-friendly,” he said after launching the MyPSV programme here on Monday (July 3).
Anwar’s surprise visit came after Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing highlighted an incident where a tourist from China had claimed she was held up when entering Malaysia and asked to pay to be allowed to enter the country.
Tiong said he had to step in to help the employee of a China-based media company after she arrived from Shenzhen on Thursday (June 29).
The woman had alleged that although her travel documents were in order, she was denied entry by Immigration officers.
She claimed that she was asked to pay several thousand ringgit if she wanted to be allowed in.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki also said it would launch a probe into allegations of corruption. ANN
Tourist incident: M’sia-China friendship association throws support behind Tiong
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia-China Friendship and Mutual Aid Association (MCFAMAA) stands behind Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing following a commotion that occured at KL International Airport (KLIA).
In a statement on Monday (July 3), MCFAMAA said its advisor Datuk Seri Michael Chong appreciated the minister’s outspokenness on rectifying “the negative image of the Immigration Department”.
“This is a very serious incident that affects our country. The association will fully cooperate with Tiong to assist,” the statement said.
It added that a similar incident had occurred on May 17 when the Federation of Commercial Photographic Society Malaysia (FCPS) had invited 12 representatives from the China Portrait Photography Society to Malaysia.
The statement said the society’s vice-president was held by the Immigration Department without reason and those that came on the tour with him had to wait at the airport for nearly three hours.
The matter was later resolved after Chong contacted Immigration on behalf of FCPS, the statement said, emphasising that no fees were paid.
MCFAMAA president Ee Kah Fuk, who is also representative lawyer for the Chinese Embassy, added that the embassy was very concerned and had received instructions to provide relevant assistance to handle similar incidents.
“The association also welcomes foreign tourists to Malaysia for tourism and will help all Chinese in Malaysia, whether they come for tourism or business,” it said.
It was reported by a news portal Thursday (June 29) night that a Cabinet Minister had barged into the arrival hall at KLIA and created a commotion in an attempt to “free” a Chinese national who was prohibited entry into Malaysia.
The news site also alleged that the minister had entered the restricted zone at the airport without a permit or pass.
Tiong has since come forward to confirm that he was the minister in question, but said he was only there to help an employee of a China-based media company after she was allegedly held up by immigration officers. ANN
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