[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians working and studying abroad are furious at the confusion over procedures for leaving the country during the period of the movement control order (MCO).
A group of Malaysians who had planned to leave for their respective destinations abroad were unable to leave the country by immigration agents at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) early yesterday morning.
Wan Nur Amira Rahmat, a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh, said immigration officers did not allow her to leave the departure hall.
He said that everything was fine when he left his luggage at the check-in desk, but problems arose at the immigration desk when he tried to get to the departure gate.
Finally, they destined it to be downloaded.
“There is no communication between the head of immigration and the ground immigration operations at KLIA. It was a disaster and sadly, we became victims of circumstance.
“The government should have been clearer on the procedures, as the recent directive caused a lot of confusion and contradiction,” the 31-year-old said yesterday.
On September 11, the Department of Immigration updated its list of procedures for Malaysians to enter and leave the country during the MCO recovery.
On the list, diplomats and their dependents, students leaving to continue their studies, and those who have been offered a place to study abroad do not need to apply to the department to leave the country.
Students traveling abroad to sit for exams and Malaysians who are holders of long-term passes from another country, such as permanent residents and employees of oil and shipping companies who must board the ship abroad, also do not They need to apply.
Those who need the approval of the department include Malaysians who returned to the country during the MCO period, those who have received job offers and are traveling abroad for meetings, seminars, exhibitions and businesses, parents who plan to accompany their children to the foreigner for studies and those who need to travel due to an emergency.
Wan Nur said the government should also grant a grace period for such “sudden regulation” that would affect many who have all valid travel documents and visas.
He said that now he would have to pay the new airfare and the tax difference for the new flight.
A student at an art school in Glasgow, who only wanted to be known as Wang, said she was “very upset and disappointed by the government’s decision.”
“They came out with the new rules on the night of September 11 and expected everyone to constantly check Facebook.
“I don’t think this is an adequate way to highlight the newly implemented rules.
“Also, the rules should come with a grace period. I don’t mind going to the trouble of getting approved, but they didn’t even give us enough time to do it, ”said the 27-year-old.
Wang said the incident had ruined all his plans to resume his studies in Britain, which begin tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Anushka Devaser, who is a British permanent resident (PR), said her husband, daughter, mother and sister were allowed to board the flight, but not her.
Before her flight, Anushka said that on numerous occasions she had checked with the Immigration Department if she needed approval to leave the country, but was told she did not need it because she was a British PR.
However, Anushka said that when she arrived at the airport, she was prevented from boarding the flight because she was told she needed approval first.
“I came back in May during the MCO because my father was very ill. He passed away shortly after. I live in the UK and I am about to lose my job because I have been away for so long.
“There is a lot that I can do remotely and they have already been very supportive,” said the 33-year-old.
Anushka, a chemical engineer, added that the new directive was not even an official announcement compared to when the government had made an announcement on revised self-quarantine procedures for those returning from abroad.
“I am a PR from another country. I am willing to sign the form that I will not return (to Malaysia). What they are doing is not protecting Malaysians from the pandemic.
“Not that he poses a threat. I can understand if they want to prevent people from entering, but what is the motive? So what if I came back during the MCO period? ” she asked.
Merlyna Kraal, 36, also expressed her frustration, explaining that she received conflicting information from immigration officials to return to Belgium.
Initially, Kraal said she was told that her husband needed approval to leave the country, but she did not do so because she had a residence permit.
“We received permission from both Malaysian Immigration and the Belgian Embassy for him to travel with me for family reunification,” he said.
But on the day of her flight, Kraal said she was prevented from boarding, but her husband was allowed to return to Belgium.
“I have followed your standard operating procedure since day one when I returned to the country in August for my wedding. It’s extremely frustrating with confusing rules, ”said the senior treasury analyst.
The Department of Immigration reiterated yesterday in a statement that students who continue their studies and those who have just received offers of studies; students taking tests; and long-term pass holders from other countries (permanent residents / resident passes / employment passes and others) do not need prior approval to leave the country.
[ad_2]
