KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has clarified that the recent claims alleging that 1.2 million Chinese tourists entered Malaysia and failed to leave is false, as the accurate figure is 84,817 Chinese nationals currently in the country on social visit passes.
He explained that from Jan 1, 2018, to the present, Malaysia has welcomed 8,491,653 Chinese tourists, with the number of departures totalling 8,012,294.
The remaining 479,359 individuals who have not left Malaysia include 129,005 with long-term visas, 5,359 who were deported for offences under various laws, 141,783 with special passport applications, and those held in the Immigration Department Detention Depot.
“Of the total arrivals, 84,817 individuals with social visit passes have not yet left.
“So, let’s put an end to these unfounded claims of 1.2 million Chinese tourists failing to leave. The allegation that the Home Ministry approves citizenships in a ‘wholesale’ manner is a gross slander, and it’s best to stop spreading it,” he said when winding up the policy-level debate on the Supply Bill 2025 (Budget 2025) for his ministry, in the Dewan Rakyat, today.
-- BERNAMA
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