The issuance of Not-to-Land Orders and SOPs for the entry of tourists into Malaysia will remain in place and will not be compromised, despite the enhancement of immigration facilities under the Visa Liberalisation Plan, which takes effect today.
Immigration director-general Ruslin Jusoh said this was in response to allegations by certain parties that the visa liberalisation plan would lead to the relaxation and simplification of procedures for foreign tourists entering Malaysia.
“Under this plan, the process of entering Malaysia and the existing SOPs will be implemented, (with) no changes,” he told reporters after observing the Immigration Department’s operations at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall, here today.
The procedures include requiring tourists entering Malaysia to have round-trip tickets and hotel reservations or a place to stay for the duration of their visit.
Ruslin said the ministry had also set up a special team of 25 enforcement officers to monitor the entry and exit of tourists.
“This special team will submit a report every two weeks to ensure that tourists stay in Malaysia based on the validity of their visas, either 30 or 60 days,” he said.
On 27 November, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the visa liberalisation plan would be strengthened with integrated security and enforcement measures by law enforcement agencies, including monitoring the departure of tourists from China and India.
This is in line with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement last Sunday that the government would allow visitors from China and India to enter Malaysia without a visa for 30 days from today.
Initiatives under the visa liberalisation plan include the provision of 30-day multiple-entry visas for all tourists wishing to visit Malaysia, and social visit passes for up to 12 months for international students who have completed their studies in Malaysia and wish to travel or work part-time.
