The Tourism, Culture and Arts Ministry did not send a representative to attend the 15th Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reforms meeting yesterday to discuss the commotion involving a Chinese national at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in June.
According to Bernama, the PSC had called for representatives from the ministry and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) to provide information regarding the matter.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing was said to be having a prior commitment - apart from being advised by his lawyer that any statement issued would be inappropriate as the case was still under police investigation.
“We like to stress that the proceeding won’t touch on any criminal investigation conducted by the MACC or police. Therefore, there would not be any overlapping investigation among the three.
“It’s a requirement for the ministry to attend and give its statement to the committee on issues relating to the handling process of Not-To-Land (NTL), as well as problems for tourists issued with NTL, at a meeting which would be fixed later,” the committee said.
On that note, PSC said the proceedings yesterday touched on NTL processes as well as tourists who were issued NTL notices, public complaints on its system, and proposals to improve regulations.
Matta representatives, present to brief the committee, consisted of its president Nigel Wong; former president Tan Kok Liang; general manager Maziah Mihat; special work exco Hamzah Rahmat and research and technology vice-president Mohd Hizzat Mohd Shah.
The next proceeding is scheduled for tomorrow and will be divided into two sessions - comprising explanations from the Transport Ministry and Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd, followed by the Home Ministry and the Immigration Department.
According to the PSC terms of reference, the committee is holding proceedings to probe issues related to migrant restriction laws as stated under Section 8 of the Immigration Act (1959/1963) and NTL processes.
The proceeding is established to investigate and understand any issues related to existing legislation and provide feedback to the government on how to improve the laws or suggest amendments to the Immigration Act and on how NTL is managed.
On June 29, there was a commotion at KLIA involving Tiong, who tried to "rescue" a Chinese woman who was denied entry into the country upon arrival at the airport.
According to the minister, the visitor's papers were in order and alleged that the tourist was a victim of corruption, which he wanted to expose.
The Chinese national was eventually allowed entry following the Tiong's intervention. - Mkini
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