Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the federal government will discuss ways to improve the procedure involving tourist arrivals.
The assurance from Loke came on the heels of the surprise visit conducted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to inspect the operations of Customs and Immigration Department at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Sunday.
Anwar, said Loke, had also given his assurance that a thorough probe would be carried out involving some personnel with the Immigration Department over their alleged involvement in corruption and abuse of power.
“Serious attention must be given to address the issue since the matter involves the integrity (of the country’s civil service).
“We do not want such an issue to affect the image of the country, especially our huge potential in the global tourism industry.
“We do not want tourists to endure bad experiences when they visit our country. We must strike a balance between strengthening security along the country’s entry and exit points and that we are friendly to foreign tourists at the same time,” he said.
Anwar on Sunday conducted a surprise visit to inspect the customs and immigration operations at the airport.
The prime minister’s surprise visit came after Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing highlighted an incident where a tourist from China had claimed she was held up when entering Malaysia and asked to pay to be allowed to enter the country.
Tiong said he had to step in to help the employee of a China-based media company after she arrived from Shenzhen on Thursday (June 29).
The woman had alleged that although her travel documents were in order, she was denied entry by Immigration officers.