by Theleaders-Online | December 31, 2019 4:45 am
PUCHONG: PAS today urged the government to take stern action against tourists who overstay in the country.
Its information chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad said the party is worried about reports that a large number of tourists, especially from China and India, who came to Malaysia but were never recorded leaving the country.
“According to the 2018 National Audit Report, 79,799 Chinese tourists and 41,243 Indian tourists came to the country between 2016 and 2018 but the Malaysia Immigration System (MyIMMs) did not record 76,258 (95.6%) Chinese tourists and 39,806 (96.5%) Indian tourists leaving.
“This is a serious matter and it can affect our national security,” he said, in a statement.
Kamaruzaman said this matter may be linked to the issuance of false birth certificate and identification card syndicate in Penang, where around 20 suspects, including a Penang Registration Department officer, were caught.
“Furthermore, the Penang police chief Datuk T Narenasagaran believed the syndicate may have been operating for a long time not only in Penang but in other states as well,” he said.
Kamaruzaman said the government and relevant agencies should investigate the link between overstaying tourists and the syndicate.
Recently, the government announced that a visa-free facility, or eNTRI system, will be implemented for Chinese and Indian nationals entering Malaysia for travelling or visiting for 15 days, starting next year.
By Irman Hashim
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