Malaysia bans visas-on-arrival for foreigners flying from Chennai

Foreigners flying into Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Chennai will no longer be allowed to apply for the 30-day visa-on-arrival (VOA). The Cabinet decided on the freeze last week after Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad disclosed that an “alarming” number of those issued VOAs, especially from India, have overstayed and are now untraceable. No time frame has been set for the suspension. The Cabinet will review the situation from time to time, he said. Foreigners intending to fly from Chennai now have to apply for visas from the Malaysian Consulate there. Radzi explained that the suspension only applies to flights from Chennai because most of those who have overstayed came in on these flights.

There are only a limited number of flights from other cities in India and the cost is higher, he added. The VOA was introduced in September to boost tourist arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year 2007. Visitors from countries which require a Malaysian visa need only pay RM100 for a one-month pass upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Radzi said he does not have the latest figures of those who overstayed, but it was announced last month that since September, close to 3,000 foreigners have abused the VOA. Of these, 1,941 were from India; 355 from China; 194 from Bangladesh; 113 from Pakistan; and 199 from Sri Lanka. The rest were from Myanmar, Nigeria, Congo, Nepal and other countries.

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