KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will continue to closely monitor the waiting period for travellers at Immigration clearance counters at international entrances.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said there should be improvement from the Immigration Department on the long waiting queue for travellers recently.
On Feb 25, the New Straits Times reported that tourists who arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) complained about the long queues, saying they took between one and three hours to go through Immigration clearance. Malaysians netizens also chimed in with their own horror stories.
Tiong said there were proactive measures from the Immigration Department, with officers carrying out regular inspections.
"Anything else we must refer to the Home Ministry because they surely have the short; medium and long term solutions on this issue.
"But the ministry will continue to monitor because we do not want the tourists to be affected by the long waiting time and we will improve on that," he told reporters after launching the 16th UFI Asia Pacific conference 2023 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here, today.
Tiong added that the ministry will continue to hold meetings with the Home Ministry and Immigration Department to prevent similar issues from occurring.
"Of course there will be meetings from time to time (with relecant authorities) but whenever it is necessary the ministry will visit all the Customs; Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) including the one near Singapore.
"If there are any weaknesses we will ask them to upgrade, for example the immigration system," he said.
Earlier today, the Immigration Department announced on its official Facebook page stating there will be three work shifts for its officers to assist at the international arrivals hall, special lanes for tourists with children, elderly and those with special needs, as well as all 26 foreign passport counters being opened during peak hours between 3pm and 9pm.