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Who released the photo of the woman?
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KLIA VIP ruckus: Tiong confirms he checked on detained Chinese tourist
Tourism minister claims such visits ‘customary’ to understand situations involving foreign visitors
Updated 15 minutes ago · Published on 30 Jun 2023 7:15PM
KUALA LUMPUR – Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has confirmed that he was the minister who was reportedly involved in a commotion at the international arrival hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) recently.
He said he had gone to check on a tourist who was detained without any reason given. He said there was a problem as the tourist and the immigration officers had a communication problem.
He claimed that it is customary for a minister to conduct such visits to understand the situation concerning the arrival of foreign tourists in Malaysia.
“This monitoring is part of my role as a minister to actively engage with the field.
“Initially, I intended to address this issue through practical channels, but due to its viral nature and media inquiries, I feel compelled to provide an explanation,” he said in a statement today.
Tiong called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct a large-scale raid at the international arrival gate. He added that he was accompanied by investigators from his ministry’s integrity unit when he went in.
“I was told that the tourist had a complete set of documentation. However, communication failure resulted in the immigration officers failing to obtain the relevant documents,” he said.
He stressed that he has raised the issue of such lack of communication since March, adding that there should be translators provided for tourists from the Middle East, China and India at entry points.
“The question is: why did they reject the translators provided by Malaysia Airport Holding Bhd (MAHB)?” he said
Meanwhile, Immigration Director-General Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said an immediate investigation will be carried out comprehensively covering all related aspects of the incident.
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PETALING JAYA: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing says he had to personally step in to help an employee of a China-based media company after she was allegedly held up by immigration officers at KL International Airport (KLIA) on arrival from Shenzhen on Thursday (June 29).
The woman had alleged that although her travel documents were in order, she was denied entry by Immigration officers.
She alleged that she was asked to pay several thousand ringgit if she wanted to be allowed entry.
The woman had arrived in Malaysia with her superior, a senior official of a Chinese government-owned TV station.
It is learnt that while her superior was cleared and allowed entry by the Immigration Department, the woman who is the senior official’s personal assistant was denied entry and allegedly told there were discrepancies in her travel documents.
When contacted by The Star on Friday (June 30), Tiong said the station official called up the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou and sought help upon seeing her colleague in distress.
“I received a call from a staff member of the Consulate General’s office who related what allegedly happened.
“I contacted the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and together with its officers, we went over to KLIA at 3am to investigate. I met and spoke to both the vistors and Immigration officers on duty,” he said.
Tiong said the Immigration officers told him that, as there was a language barrier, the matter was a misunderstanding between them and the China nationals.
He said the women, believed to be in their 40s, also had their cellphones seized by the Immigration officers.
“What powers do they have to seize their phones? It was their first trip to Malaysia. The two women told me that they have never run into such problems in other countries.
“They are appalled by the incident, which has caused them great embarrassment.
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It was reported by a news portal Thursday night that a Cabinet minister had barged into the arrival hall at KLIA on Thursday and created a commotion in an attempt to “free” a Chinese national who was prohibited entry into Malaysia.
The news site also alleged that the minister had entered the restricted zone at the airport without a permit or pass.
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