E Contrario

A friend called last Monday night and told me his brother’s girlfriend from China had been detained at LCCT Kuala Lumpur. His brother Reimund Chong had been waiting at the airport since 14:00hr. I called up Immigration at the LCCT to find out what was happening. After much negotiation, our appeal for her to be released ended in vain. She continued to be kept in the airport lock-up without food and water. Her handphone was even confiscated.

The excuse given was that she had insufficient money with her. Reimund said the immigration officer accused her of entering the country to be a sex worker. This allegation outraged him.

We then found out that she was sent out the next morning at about 6:30hr. We knew nothing about the deportation. Her handphone and passport were only returned to her upon arrival in Macau.

Malaysian bureaucracy is absurd. The woman traveled with a valid tourist visa. Even when she was detained and deported, her visa issued in China by the Malaysian Embassy was not nullified. The authorities told her that she could use the same visa to enter Malaysia, if she brings more money next time.

I thought we are keen to promote Malaysia as a tourist destination. The government has declared next year as “Visit Malaysia Year”. Yet it does not appear that the bureaucrats are in tune with such promotions. Foreign tourists to Malaysia have not increased substantially compared to our neighbours. Bad attitude, that’s why.

On 13 December, I held a press conference at KeADILan HQ. Now I am taking up the case to lodge a complaint to the Immigration Ministry.

Read The Sun report