Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), which manages a network of 39 airports
PETALING JAYA: The Home Ministry and the Immigration Department have denied that there are additional security screenings being imposed on tourists including those from China.
"The Ministry and the Immigration Department deny having any agreement regarding additional security screening procedures for Malaysian visa application process for tourists from any countries, including those from China," said Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim in a statement on Thursday (July 12).
Alwi was responding to an article published by news portal MalaysiaKini claiming that Chinese tourists were subject to pre-screening conducted by the Chinese Citizen Security Assessment Centre to Malaysia (CCSACM).
Alwi clarified that there are currently two ways for tourists who intend to visit Malaysia to apply for a visa.
He said this was through its manual visa application by its One-Stop Centres (OSC) or through online application (eVisa).
However, for the citizens of China, Alwi said they can also apply for a visa through the Electronic Travel Registration and Information (eNTRI).
He said this was a special facility given to Chinese tourists throughout the visa exemption period which will last until Dec 31.
"Security screening by the Immigration Department is one of its standard operating procedure before approving any visa and it acts as an early mechanism to verify an applicant's background," he said.
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