KUALA LUMPUR – A body representing the interests of tourism agencies has hailed Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s efforts in trying to eradicate corruption at disembarkation points in Malaysia, especially when it affects bona fide visitors to the country.
The Malaysian Tourism Agency Association (Mata) praised Tiong for taking such proactive action, and gave its full support for his move to give serious focus on the issue involving Malaysian immigration officials at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Its president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun referred to a recent incident at KLIA’s international arrival hall where Tiong had showed up to help a foreign visitor who was supposedly held up without explanation by immigration officials.
Tiong had yesterday explained that he was informed about a tourist who had a complete set of documentation and had communication failure with the immigration officers.
He said the tourist was detained without any reason given.
He defended his action to go there, which resulted in a viral report that there was an ensuing commotion at the arrival hall.
Tiong said that he was accompanied by investigators from his ministry’s integrity unit when he went in.
He also called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to conduct a large-scale raid at the international arrival gate.
On behalf of Mata, Khalid congratulated Tiong for showing high concern in the fight against corruption at entry points in Malaysia.
“As a player in the national tourism industry, Mata cannot accept the excuse that communication became a problem between the tourist from China and the immigration officials as reported,” he said in a statement last night.
“If this is a problem, the time has come for the Malaysian immigration department to accommodate officers who can speak a variety of languages that would make it easier for (foreign) people to enter and leave the country.”
He added that the association was taken by surprise at the viral report of the incident, which depicted the situation as a ruckus, involving Tiong.
“As the country is a focus of foreign tourists, the Malaysian government needs to provide all relevant facilities, including interpreters, at all entry points in the country.
“Don’t make the issue of communication a solid obstacle for the country’s economic growth through tourism,” he added.
Khalid stressed that the industry here has many competitors, as other neighbouring countries are offering facilities for foreign tourists that entice them to travel to these places.
He expressed concern that visitors would then be dissuaded from coming to Malaysia.
“If this issue is not resolved, Mata believes tourists will go to other countries.
“This, of course, would be detrimental to our national revenue and to players in the country’s tourism industry who are just recovering from the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. – The Vibes, July 1, 2023
