Border drama unfolded yesterday when 39 Malaysian tourists found themselves banned from entering Thailand, thanks to unresolved passport issues, outstanding tax debts, and past criminal records.

 

Kedah Immigration Director Mohd Ridzzuan Mohd Zain spilled the details yesterday, September 16, revealing an array of reasons for the entry denials.

 

“We had 10 cases of damaged passports, torn, waterlogged, missing pages, and even scratches.

 

“There were also 20 cases related to income tax arrears and nine cases involving Customs issues, making the cross-border journey even more challenging for those involved.”

 

 

 

 

These discrepancies came to light through data from the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex. To avoid such holiday hiccups, Mohd Ridzzuan advises all Malaysians to verify their travel eligibility online using Immigration’s Travel Check System portal before setting off on international adventures.

 

This year, Malaysia Day fell yesterday, September 16, coinciding with the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, gifting Malaysians a three-day holiday, with some private sector employees enjoying an extended break today.

 

According to The Sun Malaysia, nearly 100,000 Malaysian tourists flocked to southern Thailand during the holiday, pumping over 1 billion baht into the local economy.

 

By Bob Scott

Picture courtesy of Nikkei Asia

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-09-17
 

 

There will be some push back from Malaysia due to this. They're not going to like it.
 

28 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“There were also 20 cases related to income tax arrears and nine cases involving Customs issues, making the cross-border journey even more challenging for those involved.”

 

That's interesting...  Especially in light of that tax thingy going on.

 

From reading it, It was Malaysia that restricted their own people from leaving!

6 minutes ago, ukrules said:

There will be some push back from Malaysia due to this. They're not going to like it.
 

Cobblers.  Push back?  From whom?   For not allowing self-invalidated people in?

2 minutes ago, happy me said:

From reading it, It was Malaysia that restricted their own people from leaving!

Apart from those with damaged (invalid) documentation, probably.

3 minutes ago, happy me said:

From reading it, It was Malaysia that restricted their own people from leaving!

Exactly! I had to read it twice after seeing comments about «push backs» from Malaysia.  I often wonder if people read the post they are reacting to, - or just stick to the headlines so as to get more time to write more reactions? Sort of Trump-style.

39 minutes ago, ukrules said:

There will be some push back from Malaysia due to this. They're not going to like it.
 

 

So 100,000 people came, and 39 were denied, and you start talking about a push back. Jesus wept

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

This year, Malaysia Day fell yesterday, September 16, coinciding with the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, gifting Malaysians a three-day holiday, with some private sector employees enjoying an extended break today.

 

According to The Sun Malaysia, nearly 100,000 Malaysian tourists flocked to southern Thailand during the holiday, pumping over 1 billion baht into the local economy

I don't get it; why 'flock' to a buddhist-majority country to celebrate your prophet's birthday?  

9 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

I don't get it; why 'flock' to a buddhist-majority country to celebrate your prophet's birthday?  

 

Shopping in Hat Yai.

 

47 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

That's interesting...  Especially in light of that tax thingy going on.

 

I'm pretty sure they were stopped at the Malaysia checkpoint.

How would Thailand know their tax details?

Typical clickbait headline "Malaysians Banned from Entering Thailand" rather than the far more accurate "Malaysians Denied Permission to Exit Malaysia at Thai Border Crossing" 

 

I remember an American friend who legitimately worked in Thailand was stopped at BKK airport from boarding an international flight because the immigration computer showed he owed back taxes.  Took him a few days to sort out and get the overdue taxes resolved. 

This happens a lot in Dubai.

 

For the UK, do you even pass a passport control when trying to exit the country? 

So it was just a few people, not all Malaysions.

12 hours ago, ukrules said:

There will be some push back from Malaysia due to this. They're not going to like it.
 

 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

These discrepancies came to light through data from the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex

Not from Thai immigration?

8 hours ago, Rolo89 said:

This happens a lot in Dubai.

 

For the UK, do you even pass a passport control when trying to exit the country? 

Your passport is scanned at the check-in desk for all international flights. 

2 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

Your passport is scanned at the check-in desk for all international flights. 

Never had it scanned, but they do put in the passport details when you check in online or check in at a desk. I guess it's done automatically in the background with the airline giving the details? Rather than being scanned at a gate with a border guard

14 hours ago, happy me said:

From reading it, It was Malaysia that restricted their own people from leaving!

Correct

The "tax clearance" issue for travel has been around for many years but in the last few weeks they have revived it.

Not sure about Thailand but in Malaysia the tradition is that things like tax, speeding fines etc are not paid until the authority offers a discount month.

As an aside Malaysia has just started to track Singaporean vehicles with outstanding traffic fines. It seems that those law abiding Singaporeans aren't as squeaky clean when it comes to paying Malaysian fines

14 hours ago, daveAustin said:

I don't get it; why 'flock' to a buddhist-majority country to celebrate your prophet's birthday?  

90% of Thailand's "South" is Muslim.

...20 cases related to income tax arrears...

-------------------------------------------------------------.----------------

 

?????
Which kind of Income Tax they can possibly owe in Thailand?

Many of them are border hoppers staying only  for  1-2 days in Thailand.

Or some of them engage in unauthorized trade during their short visit and dodging tax?

Also red and indeed it looks like Malaysia were rejecting their own people to leave.

Has nothing to do with denying entry Thailand, they (Malaysian immigration) dont let them leave Malaysia !

Pic as wel headline are out of line. Not a good made article. I would say even trolling.

Headline should have been "Malaysian people denied leaving the country" 

23 hours ago, impulse said:

Shopping in Hat Yai.

Yes indeed, or something else that muslims wouldn't normally do on their doorstep. 😋

8 hours ago, Srikcir said:

90% of Thailand's "South" is Muslim.

And...? Pretty sure Malays are not coming in droves to celebrate their prophet's birthday with the Thai Muslims of the south. They could do that on their own turf. They do it to have a good time and not even think about any of that stuff.

On 9/17/2024 at 7:11 PM, Imkah said:

so as to get more time to write more reactions? Sort of Trump-style.

 

Hard to believe that you can link Malay's not entering Thailand for a holiday to something about Trump

 

------- Oh hell another 50 something Days of this............

20 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Yes indeed, or something else that muslims wouldn't normally do on their doorstep. 

  

Yeah, and Baptists dance when nobody's looking.   

 

I worked with a couple of dozen Muslims in Songkhla.  I chalk it up as one of my best assignments and my favorite places to stay in the world.  I should note that I don't chase women for sport, and took the oath a while back.  Mongers and drunks may not agree with me on Songkhla.

 

Confusing title. No borderline chaos.