KUALA LUMPUR – The Immigration Department has been asked to review the categories of travellers heading overseas that can be granted permission directly without having to apply through MyTravelPass.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the directive was issued by the National Security Council (NSC) following the Pandemic Management Special Committee meeting yesterday, after taking into account public feedback and views on the MyTravelPass programme.
The Immigration Department will present the proposal to the NSC’s Covid-19 Technical Committee, he said in a statement here.
There are five categories of people who do not need to apply for approval through MyTravelPass to go abroad – diplomats and embassy officials returning to work abroad, including their dependents; students and dependents who are continuing their studies provided they have a valid student visa or dependent visa; and, long-term pass holders of other countries (permanent resident/resident pass/employment pass).
The other two categories comprise those working with petroleum and shipping companies who need to sign-on on to ships overseas, and those escorting students abroad for study purposes, which is limited to two escorts.
The categories that need MyTravelPass approval are citizens who have been offered a job or entry into an educational institution abroad; students wishing to sit for examinations abroad; attending meetings/seminars/business affairs abroad; and, those participating in exhibitions/sports competitions/training abroad, together with a letter of support from the relevant regulatory agency.
The other three categories are emergency affairs concerning immediate family members (death/accident/illness); partner/fiancé visa holder (marriage not legally registered); and, those participating in humanitarian/religious aid missions.
On the issue of certain airlines stipulating that passengers show their MyTravelPass even if they are in categories that do not require one, Hishammuddin said that should not happen.
"I have asked Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong to inform the companies to follow the guidelines that have been set," he said.
He said from October 7, last year, to September 10, this year, the Immigration Department has received 356,510 applications and, of the total, 208,509 applications were approved; 127,465 rejected; 6,697 cancelled by the applicants themselves; and, 13,000 still being processed.
He said there are four reasons an application can be rejected, namely, the name is on a Immigration Department blacklist; incomplete documentation; uploaded documents cannot be read; and, if documents are falsified.
Hishammuddin said MyTravel Pass applications must be done online 14 days prior to departure. – Bernama, September 16, 2021
