KUALA LUMPUR – Officers from the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines are currently on the ground to assist a group of 13 travellers from Malaysia currently stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Wisma Putra said today.
Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah posted the update in a tweet, adding how the relevant Filipino agencies are being contacted.
“The Malaysian Embassy in Manila is currently assisting Malaysian citizens stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to enter the Philippines. The Foreign Affairs Ministry is also liaising with the relevant agencies to ensure the process runs smoothly,” he tweeted.
Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Manila kini sedang membantu rakyat Malaysia yang terkandas di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Ninoy Aquino untuk memasuki Filipina. @MalaysiaMFA juga sedang berurusan dengan agensi berkaitan bagi memudahkan proses ini berjalan lancar. https://t.co/UmjpNqLHre
— Saifuddin Abdullah ?? (@saifuddinabd) February 14, 2022
Wisma Putra, on the ministry’s official Twitter account, reiterated its commitment at resolving the current issue.
“The Malaysian government will always continue to uphold and protect the rights of our fellow Keluarga Malaysia,” read the post.
The Malaysian Government will always continue to uphold and protect the rights of our fellow #KeluargaMalaysia ??@saifuddinabd @KamarudinJaffar @IkramShahrul @amran_zin @CheongLL_WP @MalaysiaPMO @JPenerangan @bernamadotcom
— Wisma Putra (@MalaysiaMFA) February 14, 2022
This came after reports of 15 travellers, two of which are non-Malaysians, were denied entry into the country as vaccination certificates on their MySejahtera application were not accepted as a proof of vaccination by authorities there.
It was reported the travellers, who were there on leisure, humanitarian and business purposes, also had their passports confiscated by Filipino border authorities and were told they would be deported today.
The travellers, who reportedly touched down at the airport around 8.30am yesterday, were told their vaccination certificates were not recognised by authorities there, with personnel asserting that travellers vaccinated in countries like Singapore and the United Kingdom would be allowed entry.
Reports also included how officers from the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines had attempted to assist the stranded travellers but were told to wait until Monday morning to be able to deal with the Philippines Foreign Affairs Agency, consistent with Wisma Putra’s tweets today.
It is said that embassy staffers there are looking to obtain vaccination reciprocity from Filipino border control to allow the travellers entry.
The Philippines lifted its international borders for fully vaccinated travellers last week, on February 10. – The Vibes, February 14, 2022
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