Malaysia: Multiple Entry Visas For Chinese, Indian Tourists

Multiple Entry Visas For Chinese, Indian Tourists

PUTRAJAYA: -- Tourists from China and India can visit Singapore and Thailand from Malaysia without having to apply for visas to re-enter Malaysia once the Immigration Department approves multiple entry visas for them soon.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said Chinese tourists had complained of having to renew their visas to re-enter Malaysia after visiting Singapore.

"This is cumbersome but with the multiple entry visas they can shop in Singapore and Thailand and come back to Malaysia using the same visas," he told reporters after his ministry's post-Cabinet meeting, here Wednesday.

At present, Chinese tourists are given three-week visas to visit Malaysia.

"With the multiple entry visas, they can stay for one year in this country and extend their stay for another month," he said, adding that this would attract Chinese and Indian tourists to make frequent trips to Malaysia.

Radzi said the Immigration Department would upgrade its computer system with a surveillance software to enable it to track down foreigners who overstayed before the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

"It takes a long time to trace overstayers with the present system," he said.

He said permanent residents would be given smart cards from June 1.

-- BERNAMA 2006-05-24