PAS keen to know if it’s true 1.2m Chinese citizens still ‘hiding’ in Malaysia
A TOTAL of 523 Chinese nationals have been arrested for various immigration offences, of which 109 have been deported from immigration depots nationwide as of May 11 this year.
This was revealed by Home Minister Senator Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to an oral question raised by Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-PAS) who wanted to know the appropriateness of relaxing visa requirements for Chinese tourists when Malaysian Immigration Department records indicated that more than 1.2 million Chinese tourists have not left Malaysia since 2021.
Saifuddin did not address Ahmad Marzuk’s concern per se but merely revealed that continuous enforcement will be implemented to identify locations that are the focus of foreign nationals – including Chinese citizens – throughout Malaysia.
“Throughout 2022, a total of 8,033 operations and 115,134 inspections were carried out on illegal immigrants and employers throughout the country. The operation carried out has led to the arrest of a total of 22,804 illegal aliens and 371 employers,” he shared.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail
Until May 11 this year, the Home Ministry through its various enforcement units had carried out a total of 3,026 operations and 33,642 inspections nationwide to nab illegal immigrants and their employers which led to the arrest of 7,996 illegal aliens and 116 employers.
Additionally, 12,370 illegal aliens were also arrested at the entry gates or had surrendered themselves for various immigration offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963, bringing the total number of illegal immigrants arrested to 20,366 people.
“Of that number, a total of 523 people (2.57%) are Chinese nationals,” noted Saifuddin. “Until May 11, the Immigration Department has also recorded the deportation of 16,780 illegal immigrants from immigration depots across the country. Of that number, a total of 109 (0.65%) are Chinese nationals.”
With the answer furnished by Saifuddin, there is a possibility that there could still be ‘big number’ of Chinese tourists who did not leave the country even though the Home Ministry insists that there is no security conspiracy.
“The Home Ministry through the Immigration Department has never compromised on various aspects of national security involving the entry and presence of foreigners in the country. Among the strategies implemented is the imposition of visa requirements on certain foreign nationals,” highlighted Saifuddin.
“This is to ensure that the entry of foreign tourists, including those from China, is genuinely for the purpose of social visits, financially capable, not classified as prohibited immigrants and not included in the Immigration Department’s suspect list.”
Apart from visa requirements, the Immigration Department also implements strict entry control procedures whereby every foreign tourist must have a valid travel document, return plane ticket, proof of hotel reservation, travel itinerary and a brief question and answer for foreign visitors.
“The Immigration Department has also mandated that all foreign tourists must not have a record on the suspect list before entry permission is granted,” added Saifuddin. – June 8, 2023
Until May 11 this year, the Home Ministry through its various enforcement units had carried out a total of 3,026 operations and 33,642 inspections nationwide to nab illegal immigrants and their employers which led to the arrest of 7,996 illegal aliens and 116 employers.
Additionally, 12,370 illegal aliens were also arrested at the entry gates or had surrendered themselves for various immigration offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963, bringing the total number of illegal immigrants arrested to 20,366 people.
“Of that number, a total of 523 people (2.57%) are Chinese nationals,” noted Saifuddin. “Until May 11, the Immigration Department has also recorded the deportation of 16,780 illegal immigrants from immigration depots across the country. Of that number, a total of 109 (0.65%) are Chinese nationals.”
With the answer furnished by Saifuddin, there is a possibility that there could still be ‘big number’ of Chinese tourists who did not leave the country even though the Home Ministry insists that there is no security conspiracy.
“The Home Ministry through the Immigration Department has never compromised on various aspects of national security involving the entry and presence of foreigners in the country. Among the strategies implemented is the imposition of visa requirements on certain foreign nationals,” highlighted Saifuddin.
“This is to ensure that the entry of foreign tourists, including those from China, is genuinely for the purpose of social visits, financially capable, not classified as prohibited immigrants and not included in the Immigration Department’s suspect list.”
Apart from visa requirements, the Immigration Department also implements strict entry control procedures whereby every foreign tourist must have a valid travel document, return plane ticket, proof of hotel reservation, travel itinerary and a brief question and answer for foreign visitors.
“The Immigration Department has also mandated that all foreign tourists must not have a record on the suspect list before entry permission is granted,” added Saifuddin. – June 8, 2023
Yes...good question. But why was this question not asked during Mahiaddin's and Turtle Egg's time as PM?
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