NGO calls for 30-day Chinese visitors' visa extension

KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) is appealing to the Government to grant a 30-day-maximum extension of visa, nationwide, to tourists from China currently stranded in Malaysia due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Its President Tan Sri TC Goh (pic) said such a move was necessary to better facilitate their return to China.

“I hope both the Federal and the State Government could better communicate and facilitate on this matter, and come up with a unified measure, to avoid unnecessary confusion and inconvenience to our visitors,” he said, in a statement, Thursday.

Goh, who is also the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), was commenting on the State Government’s announcement of a seven-day visa extension for China tourists currently stranded in Sabah, which he described as insufficient.

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He suggested that the State Immigration Department go to the ground to better understand and assess the dilemma facing the China tourists, and to consider giving them a 30-day extension of their visa.

“We understand that some of the Chinese tourists who are currently vacationing in Sabah may not wish to return to their country due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic there.

“If this is the case, then the Government should consider granting them extension of their visa.

“We believe their temporary stay in Sabah or other parts of the country will help boost the tourism industry which is already affected by travelling restrictions imposed by many countries, China and Malaysia included.”

He also believed that the health condition of China tourists currently stranded in Malaysia is not an issue.

“Some of the China tourists who wished to return home may require more than seven days to make necessary arrangement, including flight schedule and transportation back home.

“I hope the relevant authority could take this into consideration and grant them a 30-day visa extension,” he said.

Besides that, he also hoped the State Government could pay serious attention to the recent announcement by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu that thousands of China tourists were stranded in Sabah following the State Government’s temporary suspension of all flights from China.

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“All quarters must continue to have good deliberation and co-operation to ensure that, whatever issues there are facing our valued visitors, are promptly and effectively resolved, in a courteous manner.”

He also noted that presently, except for Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, both the Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia are still conducting flights to various parts of China, and passengers could still fly to these places via Kuala Lumpur.

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