PM rebukes Immigration Dept over tourist entry congestion

PUTRAJAYA: The recent congestion and delays at immigration counters at the KL International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA2 has caught the attention of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the Immigration Department had been reprimanded over the issue as it involved tourists arriving into the country.

"Sometimes our reprimands are akin to parental love so please don't take it to heart.

"As with the Hari Raya spirit of forgiveness, I hope the Immigration Department will forgive me," he said at the Home Ministry Hari Raya Open House celebrations here on Thursday (May 2).

Anwar said that the number of tourist arrivals had increased drastically at the start of this year, resulting in pressure at the immigration counters.

"Malaysia is a popular destination and there was an in influx of tourists by up to 80% which put pressure on the agency.

"However, tourists will not want to listen to whatever excuses that is given for delays if they are forced to wait," he added.

As such, he said the recently formed Malaysian Checkpoints and Border Agency (MCBA) will help smoothen entry of tourists into the country.

The MCBA, which commences operations on May 1, will serve as a single agency to manage and control the nation's borders.

Earlier in his welcoming speech, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that congestion at the immigration entry counters was an issue which he dealt with on a daily basis earlier this year.

"Tourists were arriving to the country by the droves at the entry points but there was room for improvements.

"This issue was looked into daily by the ministry," he said.

Saifuddin said that Anwar had reprimanded him over the issue and in turn, he would reprimand his ministry's director general over the matter.

"The ministry director-general would in turn reprimand the Immigration director-general to the point of hauling him up personally," he said.

Saifuddin said that the reprimands and warnings from Anwar should be viewed as challenges to overcome the issue and not merely political talk by the prime minister.

As a gesture to make up with the department, Saifuddin said that a special Hari Raya Open House celebrations will be held at the Immigration Department this May 6 although one was organised at the ministerial level by the Home Ministry.

It was reported on Feb 24 that tourists arriving at KLIA were forced to wait between one and three hours to go through immigration clearance.