LANGKAWI – Travel trade leaders have called on the National Security Council to address concerns by foreigners allowed to stay on in Malaysia due to the global pandemic as they may be required to exit within 11 days if they fail to get a special extension pass from the Immigration Department.
Tourism Langkawi pro-tem committee chairman Ahmad Pishol Isahak said the foreigners are anxious that they may be repatriated if they are unable to get the special pass on time.
He said that there is a need to put to rest speculations on the matter as people are already jittery with the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Speaking to The Vibes, he asked if the requirement to apply for the pass is just a procedure.
“The foreigners are worried as their embassies have also expressed some confusion over how the process works,” he said.
It is learnt that foreigners on expired social visit passes who have been issued 90-day tourist stamps must obtain the special pass.
Applications must be made through the Immigration Department during the recovery movement control order period.
Several of these tourists have expressed concern about not being able to obtain the passes within the stipulated period of the first two weeks of January.
The US Embassy posted on its website about being informed on December 31 that as of January 1, holders of expired social visit passes with 90-day tourist stamps must obtain a special pass to remain in or to depart Malaysia.
It said that the special pass exemption process previously in force, which permitted individuals with expired social visit passes to depart Malaysia without any immigration processing or penalties until the end of the RMCO, is no longer in effect.
“The US Embassy continues to seek clarity on this new policy change and will share additional updates via alerts to registered US citizens in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program and on our embassy’s website,” it said.
The embassy said those affected should contact Malaysian immigration directly through its online inquiry system at http://eapp.imi.gov.my/tanya/create or through the Malaysian government call centre (MyCGG) at 03-8000-8000 with further questions.
Langkawi Businesses Association deputy president Datuk Issac Alexander said the matter could not be clarified immediately as it is a long weekend break due to the new year.
He said that he expects the authorities to better explain the situation to those holding such visas soon.
The Immigration Department could not be reached for comment. – The Vibes, January 3, 2021
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