PETALING JAYA: The case of the visitor from Shenzhen who encountered setbacks during her immigration clearance at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has struck a chord with tourism industry players.
They commended Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing for going to KLIA on Thursday to check the situation on the ground after he was told about the problems faced by the China national.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) honorary secretary-general Nigel Wong said it had received numerous complaints from its members that visitors should be handled better when they are barred from entering the country.
“Foreigners who came to Malaysia to attend a summit or meeting were not treated with dignity when they were not allowed to enter Malaysia,” he said when contacted.
On Thursday, a Chinese visitor was apparently held up for 15 hours with food given to her just once. Her mobile phone was seized too.
There were also allegations that she was asked to pay up if she wanted to enter Malaysia.
She claimed that her travel papers were in order but Immigration officers said there had been a language barrier and that there were discrepancies in her documents.
MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang urged the government to carry out a thorough, independent and transparent investigation.
He claimed that there was “nothing new” about reports of victimisation of tourists by Immigration officers.
“On several occasions, MATTA has raised concerns about this as it impedes our marketing efforts.
“It is imperative that the government does all it can to uplift the image of Malaysia as a safe and attractive tourism destination by eliminating corruption at all levels, more so at KLIA, which is the main gateway,” he said in a statement.
He urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assess the situation.
“A review of the procedures on handling travellers with NTL (not to land) status is crucial to prevent abuse as Malaysia gears up to receive more international tourists. It is reassuring to know that the minister is taking his job seriously,” he added.
Malaysian Inbound Tourist Association president Uzaidi Udanis said the association had also received complaints about many tourists being barred from entering.
“As far as I know, none of the tourists on tour, whether from China or India, have overstayed. Overstaying among tourists is uncommon because tour companies have to ensure their clients leave the country safely.”
He said industry players like his association had worked hard to promote Malaysia, “but when tourists enter Malaysia, authorities do not treat them in a friendly manner”.
The association also praised the Tourism Minister for his intervention in this latest case.
“The industry requires a fighter, especially after pandemic restrictions were lifted – neighbouring countries have been aggressive in attracting tourists, but Malaysia is not improving,” said Uzaidi.
He said he hopes the Immigration Department could clarify what is required for tourist arrivals.
Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association president Datuk Dr Angie Ng urged the government to review its policies especially in view of the trend towards digitisation and a currency-free world where tourists do not need to carry large amounts of cash.
The Immigration Department, she said, should allow arrivals to have cellphones with them to contact anyone for assistance if they are detained.
“We have frequently observed that tourists, particularly those who have difficulty communicating in the language, would use their mobile phones to seek assistance,” she added.
Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Paul Paw urged the relevant authorities to investigate Thursday’s case and provide an in-depth account to the public.
“With the tourism industry pushing for tourist arrivals, negative incidents like this must not happen.
“We urge the authority to be transparent and complete this investigation this as soon as possible,” he said, thanking the minister for his involvement.
Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong hopes that the case would lead to a review of Immigration Department services.
