THE usual mild-mannered Penang Chief Minister became annoyed when asked about the immigration clearance rate at the Penang International Airport after reports that passengers waited over two hours.
Chow Kon Yeow directed the relevant authorities to resolve the congestion issues at the entry points before it begins to distort the state's image as a welcoming tourism destination.
Last year, audited data from the Malaysian Airports Berhad (MAB) revealed that a record eight million passengers arrived at its arrival gates last year despite the fact that the facility was undergoing a major upgrading exercise, which can only be ready next year.
This year's figure is expected to increase owing to more direct flights from China.
"This (processing of arrivals) is fundamental... no excuse, just do it. It has to be addressed immediately to restore our image and the confidence of visitors. The issue must be fixed without delay to safeguard our reputation and tourism appeal," he said after the launch of the Nibong Tebal Festival here.
The festival also saw the unveiling of a horse sculpture in the town centre by the Jawi assemblyman Jason H'ng Mooi Lye.
It was reported that increased flight frequencies from China and closely scheduled arrivals have been identified as the causes of recent congestion at the airport.
Penang Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) commander Zuhair Jamaludin said several airlines, including Spring Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines, have expanded operations to Penang, resulting in multiple international flights arriving within short intervals.
The situation was further exacerbated by flight delays, which caused several aircraft to land almost simultaneously.
Chow said the congestion stemmed mainly from an immigration online system that has yet to be fully operational, compounded by the increasing frequency and close scheduling of international flight arrivals.
"The constraint lies in the system that has been introduced but is not yet fully functioning. When passengers from an earlier flight cannot be processed on time, the queues begin to back up," he said.
He added that the situation worsened when several flights arrived within a short period, resulting in overcrowded scenes that have since circulated on social media and in the media.
Chow said the airport border control operations are now overseen by a newly established agency under the national security framework.
He said swift coordination and operational readiness are crucial, particularly as the country was already in its "Visit Malaysia 2026" campaign. - February 8, 2026.
