Foreigner punched, yelled at in KLIA's NTL

EXCLUSIVE | Last year, Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Tiong King Sing barged into the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 after it was alleged that a foreign national was held back by corrupt officials.

A year on, it seems nothing much has changed.

In the latest case, Malaysiakini received several video clips from a tourist who was denied entry into Malaysia upon arriving, held at a place known as “not to land” (NTL), showing improper conduct from officials manning the area including getting assaulted.

In a three-second video believed to have been taken on Nov 11, an official was seen punching the face of a foreigner for unknown reasons and told the latter to move to another spot - believed to be a room.

In another clip, which also runs for three seconds, the same official was seen yelling “ingat aku kuli, sial” (do you think I’m your servant) at the foreigners present.

A third clip, which runs for 22 seconds, shows how the NTL space is crowded - with some tourists even seen seated and lying on the floor.

Malaysiakini has reached out to the Transport Ministry and Immigration Department for comments.

What are NTLs?

NTLs are places designated within the airports. This is where tourists who were denied entry into Malaysia are placed until the airliner which brought them returns them to their countries of origin.

Foreigners denied entry into Malaysia waiting to be sent home in the NTL area in KLIA

According to Malaysia Airlines Holdings Berhad (MAHB), a tourist can be denied entry for various reasons including problems with their passports, criminal records, security concerns and others.

It should be noted that NTLs have been managed by a private firm, Mono Circle Sdn Bhd, since 2015 with assistance from the Immigration Department.

Malaysiakini has also reached out to Mono Circle and an airliner for comments.

On July 12 last year, The Sun Daily reported Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as saying that airliners must manage the tourists they bring to Malaysia, in the event they are placed in NTL, adding it meets standards set by Immigration Act 1953/69 and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

‘Language barrier’

A foreigner who had spent overnight at the NTL told Malaysiakini that such incidents, including altercations, were common occurrences.

“Most times, it’s due to the language barrier. These officers give instructions but the tourists don’t understand what is said.

“So, it results in altercations, assaults and use of profanities.

“Hopefully, we can ‘clean up’ NTL soon,” he said.

Prevalent issue

On June 30 last year, Tiong said he barged into the international arrivals hall to defend a Chinese national being barred from entering Malaysia.

Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Tiong King Sing

The minister said there was a prevalent issue of foreign nationals arriving in Malaysia and having their cell phones confiscated and not being given a reason for their detention.

“Does this (phenomenon) follow legal procedures and standards? I have also been informed that officers change the law at their own will while on the field.

“In fact, the woman who was detained was not given proper food during her detention, which clearly goes against the law.

“I understand that the woman was only fed once during the 15 hours of her detention,” Tiong was reported as saying. - Mkini