Tourism minister calls for enforcement against overstaying tourists to balance entry and exit numbers, with embassies asked to assist.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department must take enforcement action against tourists who overstay their permitted period in Malaysia.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing stressed this was crucial to ensure the number of tourists entering equals those leaving.

He was responding to a question from Senator Husin Ismail, who raised the issue of visitors who do not depart and proposed holding tourism agents responsible.

Tiong said the issue of imbalance has been raised many times.

He noted visitors come to Malaysia not only through agents but also as independent travellers from various countries.

MOTAC has asked several foreign embassies, including China’s, to provide lists of tourists who have overstayed.

“The embassies will conduct investigations, while the Immigration Department will compile the list of tourists who overstayed, and MOTAC will identify the agents involved so that action can be taken,” he said during the Dewan Negara winding-up session.

In a separate ministry winding-up, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah assured that immigration autonomy for Sabah and Sarawak would continue.

He said this autonomy is maintained in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution.

He stated the new Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) will not affect the Borneo territories’ autonomous powers.

“Under Section 6(3) of Act 860, it is compulsory for the AKPS to comply with all instructions issued by the Sabah and Sarawak state authorities regarding the control of individuals at the country’s entry points,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Datuk Mohamad Alamin said his ministry is implementing work process engineering to shorten financing approval periods.

He said this aligns with the ministry’s ‘ABCD’ strategy to assist micro, small and medium enterprises.

Through the initiative, Tekun Nasional has shortened its fund approval period from 10 days to five working days.

SME Corp has accelerated access to financing through alternative providers from 21 days to seven days.

SME Bank has reduced the approval period for working capital financing from 30 to 15 working days.

Bank Rakyat has expedited MSME financing from 30 days to 14 days, while Ar-Rahnu transactions now take 10 minutes instead of 40.

Also winding up debates were the ministries of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Transport, Agriculture and Food Security, and the Digital Ministry.

 The Sun Malaysia