Only senior Immigration officers can issue 'Not to Land' notices now, says Home Ministry

 

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. – Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: With immediate effect, Not to Land (NTL) notices for travellers can only be issued by senior Immigration Department officers of grade KP41 and above, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The Home Minister said this changes the current practice which allows grade KP29 officers to issue such notices.

Saifuddin said this move was to improve Immigration management at the country's entry points.

He said the Home Ministry would also work with Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) to place more signs at airports for the convenience of travellers telling them to prepare their relevant documentation for Immigration purposes.

He said the ministry would also provide a help desk and station Immigration officers there who can speak to travellers in their mother tongue.

"Officers who are able to communicate in languages such as Mandarin, Tamil and Arabic to assist with entry and exit matters at international airports will be deployed there immediately," he said in a press conference here on Wednesday (July 5).

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday also requested the Transport Ministry to look into the company appointed to manage foreign travellers issued with NTL notices.

He said, the company involved was appointed in February 2015 and responsible for managing the purchase of return tickets and meals for travellers who are issued with a NTL notice.

"The Transport Minister was asked to review this aspect of the appointment and if it is a normal practice.

"Sometimes, there can be confusion when a person with NTL is asked to provide a certain amount of money to purchase a return ticket – this can be mistaken as an Immigration officer asking for money," he said, adding that the matter should be re-examined.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said 592,490 tourists from China had arrived in the country from January to June this year, with 423 issued with NTL notices. – Bernama