PETALING JAYA: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (pic) claims he had to personally step in to help an employee of a China-based media company after Immigration officers held her up at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on her arrival from Shenzhen on Thursday.
The woman alleged that although her travel documents were in order, she was denied entry by Immigration officers.
She alleged that she was asked to pay several thousand ringgit if she wanted to be allowed entry.
The woman had arrived in Malaysia with her superior, a senior official of a Chinese government-owned TV station.
It is learnt that while her superior was cleared and allowed entry by the Immigration Department, the woman, who is the senior official’s personal assistant, was denied entry and allegedly told there were discrepancies in her travel documents.
When contacted by The Star yesterday, Tiong said the station official called up the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou and sought help upon seeing her colleague in distress.
“I received a call from a Consulate General’s office staff member who related what allegedly happened.
“I contacted the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and together with its officers, we went over to KLIA at 3pm to investigate. I met and spoke to both the visitors and Immigration officers on duty,” he said.
Tiong said the Immigration officers told him there was a language barrier, and the matter was a misunderstanding between them and the Chinese women.
He said the women, believed to be in their 40s, also had their cellphones seized by Immigration officers.
“What powers do they have to seize their phones? It was their first trip to Malaysia. The two women told me they had never encountered such problems in other countries.
“They are appalled by the incident, which has caused them great embarrassment.
“They have recorded all the conversations that transpired with airport officials and intended to expose their unpleasant experience when they returned to China,” he added.
He said the personal assistant was later allowed to enter the country after he had intervened.
Tiong said he learnt that the TV station official had come to Malaysia to pursue her PhD at a local university in Shah Alam, and her personal assistant had accompanied her.
Tiong said it was not the first time he had shown up at KLIA to resolve such issues.
“Thursday’s incident was the fifth time I had gone to intervene on such matters.
“Also, claims that I did not have a pass to enter the arrival zone is untrue as I do have one, which is valid until next year,” he said.
Tiong said if there was a language barrier with Chinese travellers, the Immigration Department should engage translators employed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.
He said he was puzzled why the Immigration Department did not engage the translators, although they had previously been advised to do so.
It was reported by a news portal Thursday night that a minister had “barged” into the arrival hall at KLIA and created a commotion in an attempt to “free” a Chinese national who had been barred entry.
The news site also alleged that the minister had entered the restricted zone at the airport without a permit or pass.
Meanwhile, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said an investigation had been opened over a news report alleging that a minister caused a commotion at KLIA.
“A thorough investigation covering all aspects connected to the incident will be carried out,” he said.
