Govt May Reconsider Visa-On-Arrival Owing To Abuse

PUTRAJAYA: -- The government may reconsider issuing the visa-on-arrival introduced only last September after 2,876 holders of such visa overstayed in the country, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said Tuesday.

He said the majority of them were from India (1,941), followed by China (355), Sri Lanka (199) and Bangladesh (194) while smaller numbers were from other countries such as Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Congo and Nigeria.

The government had introduced the visa-on-arrival for tourists from 24 countries last September to encourage more arrivals in view of Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

Tourists only had to produce their passport and pay RM100 to obtain a one-month visa.

"Unfortunately, when we introduced the system, they (tourists) overstayed," Radzi told reporters after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri reception organising by his ministry at Parcel D, here.

Radzi said the government would continue issuing the visa for the time being and tighten enforcement.

He admitted that it was difficult to trace those who abused the system but the government would hunt them down.

On illegal immigrants, Radzi said the government agreed to set up a special court at selected immigration detention depots to reduce the burden on the ordinary courts.

"The ordinary courts face a backlog of cases, what more when they have to handle cases pertaining to illegal immigrants which account for an average of 200 a day," he said, adding that the special courts would sit next year.

He also said that the Public Service Department (JPA) has approved several posts of deputy public prosecutor to handle the cases involving illegal immigrants to expedite hearing.

As of November, 7,319 illegal immigrants were being held at 15 immigration detention depots in the country.

Eleven of these depots are in Peninsular Malaysia, three in Sabah and one in Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA 2006-11-07

Oh boy. Another round of threads confusing VOA and Visa exempt. Most westerners are eligable for 90 day visa exempt in Malaysia. ASEAN members 30 day visa exempt. these are probably all countries that previously required visas obtained outside Malaysia.

TH