BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Twenty-one foreigners were denied entry into the country today at the Bukit Kayu Hitam border crossing in Kedah after immigration checks found irregularities with their travel documents.
Bukit Kayu Hitam Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nasaruddin M. Nasir said all of them were stopped at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex at about 8am.
He said inspections found the travellers did not meet the requirements set under the Immigration Director-General’s Standing Orders for entry refusal.
“Yesterday, we stopped seven foreign nationals for similar offences, and today we recorded another 21,” he said at a press conference at the complex.
“In the past, such refusals involved only a small number, but in the last two days alone, the figures have been significantly higher. Reasons for refusal included damaged passports, suspicious entry passes, invalid flight or hotel bookings, and other irregularities.”
The 21 people comprised 4 Chinese, 15 Thai, one Indian, and 1 Pakistani.
They were eight men and 13 women aged between their 20s and 40s.
“Action was taken under Section 8(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 as they did not fulfil the entry requirements as visitors to Malaysia,” Mohd Nasaruddin said.
“All were ordered to return to their countries of origin via the same entry point. The refusal process was carried out in full compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures and department circulars in force.
“No seizures were made and no criminal elements or enforcement investigations were identified in this case,” he added.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
