PAC wants visa-on-arrival reviewed
Yoges PalaniappanPublished: Nov 20, 2007 11:08 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wants the visa-on-arrival (VOA) programme to be reviewed as it is abused by foreigners to remain in the country.
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wants the visa-on-arrival (VOA) programme to be reviewed as it is abused by foreigners to remain in the country.
The powerful committee felt that the program needed to be reviewed as many foreigners use it as an opportunity to enter the country with the intention of not leaving.
PAC chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad, in a press conference in the parliament, said that the program need to be reviewed because a lot foreigners use it as a chance to enter the country.
"We have to study whether the VOA actually boosts our tourism industry, or it causes problems to the country," said PAC chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad in a press conference in the parliament.
Earlier members of the committee had a three-hour meeting with officials from the Immigration Department.
"It is a one-way entry. Since its implementation, some 145,000 foreigners have entered the country using VOA, but 52,000 of them have not returned to their own countries," said Shahrir.
Shahrir, who is also the MP for Johor Bahru, urged the Tourism Ministry to be clear of its vision to boost the country's tourism industry.
"By providing VOA, it seems like we're chasing after quantity rather than quality. We need to be focused on our market. We have good markets in the forms of China and Middle East tourists and we should just try to retain those markets," he said, adding that implementation of VOA is like falling into our own "trap".
Inadequate immigration laws
Shahrir explained that the committee was also anticipating the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act which has been passed by the parliament in the previous sitting.
"We think with the Act, we can handle the exploitation of foreign workers," he said.
"At the moment, immigration laws do not provide tooth to the Immigration Department against Malaysias who exploit and take advantage of foreign workers," he added.
VOA was introduced in September last year whereby tourists apply for visa upon arrival into the country after paying a fee of RM100
However, only tourists from limited countries are awarded the visa. They must also fly directly to Malaysia and enter at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang International Airport, Senai International Airport, Kuching International Airport or Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The powerful committee felt that the program needed to be reviewed as many foreigners use it as an opportunity to enter the country with the intention of not leaving.
PAC chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad, in a press conference in the parliament, said that the program need to be reviewed because a lot foreigners use it as a chance to enter the country. "We have to study whether the VOA actually boosts our tourism industry, or it causes problems to the country," said PAC chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad in a press conference in the parliament.
Earlier members of the committee had a three-hour meeting with officials from the Immigration Department.
"It is a one-way entry. Since its implementation, some 145,000 foreigners have entered the country using VOA, but 52,000 of them have not returned to their own countries," said Shahrir.
Shahrir, who is also the MP for Johor Bahru, urged the Tourism Ministry to be clear of its vision to boost the country's tourism industry.
"By providing VOA, it seems like we're chasing after quantity rather than quality. We need to be focused on our market. We have good markets in the forms of China and Middle East tourists and we should just try to retain those markets," he said, adding that implementation of VOA is like falling into our own "trap".
Inadequate immigration laws
Shahrir explained that the committee was also anticipating the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act which has been passed by the parliament in the previous sitting.
"We think with the Act, we can handle the exploitation of foreign workers," he said.
"At the moment, immigration laws do not provide tooth to the Immigration Department against Malaysias who exploit and take advantage of foreign workers," he added.
VOA was introduced in September last year whereby tourists apply for visa upon arrival into the country after paying a fee of RM100
However, only tourists from limited countries are awarded the visa. They must also fly directly to Malaysia and enter at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang International Airport, Senai International Airport, Kuching International Airport or Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
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