by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 7: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has defended Malaysia’s 90-day visa-free entry policy for Chinese nationals, calling for stronger enforcement instead of scrapping a policy that supports local economic growth.
Addressing recent concerns that some individuals may be exploiting the visa-free entry for unlawful business activities, Tiong acknowledged the issue but stressed that “foreigners earning income illegally” is a challenge shared by countries around the world. He also pointed out that Malaysians abroad could be engaged in similar conduct.
“Therefore, the focus of this discussion should be on how we can strengthen monitoring and enforcement to effectively curb the involvement of foreign nationals in unauthorised commercial activities in Malaysia, not on discrediting the 90-day visa-free policy, or ignoring the economic benefits and growth potential it brings to local businesses,” Tiong stressed in a recent Facebook post.
He further highlighted the positive impact of the 90-day visa exemption, which has stimulated the local economy, especially in sectors like food, logistics, hospitality, and services, by increasing tourist traffic and expanding business opportunities as the country recovers from the pandemic.
On that note, Tiong urged certain associations and NGOs not to misinterpret government policies. He stated that policymaking is a complex process, involving thorough research, inter-agency coordination, and multiple stages of adjustment before any final decision is made.
“Blanket criticisms that undermine the entire initiative are nothing short of nit-picking, and only serve to devalue the tireless efforts put in by many,” he pointed out.
While not denying that some individuals may exploit the visa exemptions for personal gain, Tiong insisted that such incidents should be met with firmer enforcement rather than policy reversal.
“The blame should not fall on the policy itself. On the contrary, it is those who exploit loopholes who should be held accountable. I urge all parties to reflect and fully grasp this distinction,” he said.
Meanwhile, regarding a recent misleading TikTok video suggesting that the arrival of Chinese tourists in large numbers could lead to the revocation of the visa-free entry, Tiong said that he has contacted the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia to request a thorough investigation and clarification on the matter.
He also dismissed the video as irresponsible and said it had unnecessarily stirred public sentiment and created confusion. – DayakDaily
