Malaysia freezes visas-on-arrival for foreigners flying in from Chennai

Putrajaya: Foreigners flying into Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Chennai will no longer be allowed to apply for the 30-day visa-on-arrival (VOA).
The Cabinet decided on the freeze last week after Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad disclosed that an “alarming” number of those issued VOAs, especially from India, have overstayed and are now untraceable.
No time frame has been set for the suspension. The Cabinet will review the situation from time to time, he said today.
Foreigners intending to fly from Chennai now have to apply for visas from the Malaysian Consulate there.
Radzi explained that the suspension only applies to flights from Chennai because most of those who have overstayed came in on these flights. There are only a limited number of flights from other cities in India and the cost is higher, he added.
The VOA was introduced in September to boost tourist arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
08/12/06 New Straits Times, Malaysia

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