ID :
124559
Thu, 05/27/2010 - 12:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/124559
The shortlink copeid
SPECIAL PASS TO REPLACE VISA FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS' MAIDS
PUTRAJAYA, May 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will from Thursday, issue special entry passes for maids brought along by visiting foreign tourists.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the passes would be
issued with a minimal fee charged for each, at the Immigration counters at all
the international airports in the country.
"We are making it easier for foreign tourists requiring visas to visit
Malaysia to bring along their domestic maids, following feedback received from
them," he told reporters, here, Wednesday.
Hishammuddin said the initiative was in tandem with his ministry's role as
the secretariat for the Working Committee to Facilitate the Entry of Foreign
Tourists at the Country's Main Entry Points, established under the Cabinet
Committee for Tourism.
He said his ministry would work together with the Tourism Ministry on the
special passes for foreign tourists' maids for smooth implementation of the move
and to avoid abuse and other negative elements.
Hishammuddin said certain conditions would be imposed like the employer must
be the maid's sponsor and must fill up a special form at the entry point, and
the maid must enter Malaysia together with the employer and not on a different
date.
The special pass will be attached to the maid's passport and the valid
period of stay will be the same as the employer's social visit pass.
The minister said besides enhancing the public service delivery, issuing the
special pass would also have a positive impact on tourists, especially the
high-end group.
On the reintroduction of the Transit Without Visa facility as announced by
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday, he said his ministry
was studying the criteria, and the role and responsibility of airlines and
travel agents in this.
On another matter, Hishammuddin said his ministry would cooperate with the
Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Department over the action of individuals who
had set up camp at the grave of the leader of the banned Al-Arqam movement, the
late Ashaari Muhammad, better know as Abuya among his followers.
"Police do not have the power to act on this as this is a religious matter,
but we can assist the relevant authority if they want to take action," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the passes would be
issued with a minimal fee charged for each, at the Immigration counters at all
the international airports in the country.
"We are making it easier for foreign tourists requiring visas to visit
Malaysia to bring along their domestic maids, following feedback received from
them," he told reporters, here, Wednesday.
Hishammuddin said the initiative was in tandem with his ministry's role as
the secretariat for the Working Committee to Facilitate the Entry of Foreign
Tourists at the Country's Main Entry Points, established under the Cabinet
Committee for Tourism.
He said his ministry would work together with the Tourism Ministry on the
special passes for foreign tourists' maids for smooth implementation of the move
and to avoid abuse and other negative elements.
Hishammuddin said certain conditions would be imposed like the employer must
be the maid's sponsor and must fill up a special form at the entry point, and
the maid must enter Malaysia together with the employer and not on a different
date.
The special pass will be attached to the maid's passport and the valid
period of stay will be the same as the employer's social visit pass.
The minister said besides enhancing the public service delivery, issuing the
special pass would also have a positive impact on tourists, especially the
high-end group.
On the reintroduction of the Transit Without Visa facility as announced by
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday, he said his ministry
was studying the criteria, and the role and responsibility of airlines and
travel agents in this.
On another matter, Hishammuddin said his ministry would cooperate with the
Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Department over the action of individuals who
had set up camp at the grave of the leader of the banned Al-Arqam movement, the
late Ashaari Muhammad, better know as Abuya among his followers.
"Police do not have the power to act on this as this is a religious matter,
but we can assist the relevant authority if they want to take action," he said.
-- BERNAMA
