PETALING JAYA: Action should be taken against foreigners who break the law instead of scrapping the visa-free policy which has led to economic growth, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, addressing concerns over the 90-day visa-free entry for Chinese nationals, said some individuals might misuse this policy for illegal business activities but this is a challenge faced by countries worldwide.
"The focus should be on strengthening monitoring and enforcement to prevent foreign nationals from engaging in unauthorised commercial activities in Malaysia," he said.
He highlighted the significant economic benefits such a policy provides, particularly in boosting the food and beverage, logistics, hospitality and service sectors.
Tiong urged associations and NGOs not to misrepresent government policies. He said policy-making is a complex process involving extensive research and coordination, and indiscriminate criticism only undermine the efforts of those involved.
Acknowledging that some might exploit the visa-free entry to conduct business illegally, Tiong called for enhanced enforcement and public cooperation in reporting violations.
He said these "side effects" should be addressed through firm action by enforcement agencies, not by revoking the visa-free policy.
"The blame should not fall on the policy but on those who exploit its loopholes," Tiong said, urging all parties to understand this distinction and work collaboratively to achieve common goals amidst global economic challenges.
He also said a misleading video on TikTok suggested the visa-free policy could be revoked due to an influx of Chinese nationals, which he labelled as "irresponsible and unnecessarily stirring public sentiment".
Tiong added he had contacted the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia and requested their assistance to investigate the matter.
