KUALA LUMPUR: Foreigners with expired social visit passes told to leave Malaysia by April 21 are requesting that they be allowed to leave after being vaccinated, which they are “more than happy” to pay for.
A foreign national who did not wish to be identified said everyone she had spoken to was willing to pay for a temporary special visa and a vaccine.
“I am pleading for the government to let us stay until the vaccine comes. We would be happy to pay for it. If not, at least provide us with an extension so we can properly prepare to go out into this inhospitable world,” she told FMT.
She said she knew someone who returned to the US in haste in August 2020 after his extension application was denied by the Immigration Department.
“He was frail due to a recent medical episode and brought letters from his doctor and his embassy, but was still told to leave.
“Two days after he left Malaysia, the government announced they would extend the visa amnesty. Sadly, he later died in the US, and now this man’s story is on all our minds,” she said.
“There are others who have suffered from strokes and have conditions like asthma and who are terrified of travelling before receiving the vaccine. All of us are more than happy to pay for it.”
On Monday, immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud confirmed that foreigners whose social visit passes had expired during the movement control order had to leave by April 21.
However, those facing difficulty returning to their home countries because of Covid-19 travel restrictions may apply for a special pass to extend their stay. These applications must be supported by documents showing their address in Malaysia and evidence of their financial means.
Khairul’s statement confirms an FMT report on Sunday of foreigners from several countries being told that they have until April 21 to leave the country without being fined or detained.
The deadline is based on Putrajaya’s grace period for foreigners whose social visit passes expired in 2020.
In her email to FMT, the expatriate gave personal accounts of foreigners willing to share how they were affected by the deadline.
“Why would Malaysia get rid of the only tourists left? Our money goes directly into the local economy. We support your restaurants, markets and other small businesses. We don’t take jobs from others and are considerate of every MCO rule, and incredibly grateful that the Malaysian government has allowed us to stay under these unusual circumstances.”
The foreigners she spoke to, she added, understood that they were guests and that they could not stay indefinitely.
“We ask the government to issue a temporary special visa to allow us to stay here for a few more months. We are happy to pay for this privilege. This way the government can register all remaining tourists in the country, and those who choose not to pay can leave,” she said.
Another foreigner, saying he was grateful to the government for its generosity and consideration, doubted that tourists engaged in scams and prostitution or worked in massage parlours as claimed by Khairul.
“Tourists typically spend money on accommodation, food, car rental, utilities and other essentials. We provide a good and regular source of income to Malaysia.
“Tourists on a visa amnesty never intend to not leave Malaysia. Many would like to leave, some are desperate to get back to their country and loved ones after a whole year but, unfortunately, the pandemic complicates matters in various ways,” he said.
“Clarity and consideration are what we’re hoping for.”
On Monday, Khairul said the Immigration Department had found several cases of visitors misusing their social visit passes to work at entertainment centres and massage parlours, as well as indulging in criminal activities such as prostitution and scams. - FMT
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