PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 (Bernama) –Malaysia has stopped the issuance of Visa On Arrival (VOA) for tourist from Iran, upon Australia’s request, to stop them from using Malaysia as a transit for entering Australia illegally.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said tourist from Iran need to apply for visa and would only be allowed to stay in Malaysia for 14 days.
“We are committed towards Australia’s request to ensure tourist who come from Iran and Syria do not use Malaysia as a transit to enter Australia illegally,” he told reporters, here, today.
Zahid had earlier received a courtesy call from Australia’s Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison, at his office, today.
The Home Minister said the Malaysia-Australia joint committee on the issue of Human Trafficking had agreed to use the biometric system to identify foreigners who tried to use Malaysia as a transit to enter Australia illegally.
Zahid said through the new initiative, foreigners who enter Malaysia from specific countries must show their return ticket to show proof that they would be in Malaysia for only a short period.
Meanwhile, Morrison said the Australian government under new leader Tony Abbot wants to curb human trafficking activities from South East Asia to Australia.
“We are working with Malaysia to create stronger borders for this region as stronger borders are good for commerce, trade and also immigration program. That’s why we are working hard to deliver this,” he said.
