KUCHING: Concrete measures must be taken to improve efficiency at airports in country to resolve overcrowding and long queues as the number of tourist arrivals increases.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC) Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said overcrowding and long queues are a common sight, especially during peak hours.
“This has predictably led to much anger with many comments on the internet regarding the long hours, sometimes as long as two to four hours, for immigration clearance.
“I appeal to the respective secretaries-general of the Home and Transport Ministries to conduct checks on the ground and empower the various departments to comprehensively improve the efficiency of immigration clearance,” he said in a Facebook post.
He hoped the departments involved would do more to actively find solutions to ease the congestion as the secretaries-general of the two ministries concerned have agreed to look into the matter.
“I urge the relevant authorities to develop an effective plan within a month to resolve the issues and I appreciate their cooperation on the matter,” he said.
The Bintulu MP also said that earlier he had proposed to the two ministries to open special lanes for families traveling with the elderly and children, which was agreed upon by the secretaries-general.
“Making such facilities available would greatly expedite immigration clearance for those who need more time and assistance, thus reducing overcrowding at airports.
“Needless to say, continuing to allow long waits and queues at our country’s entry points would negatively affect Malaysia’s image and stagnate the tourism sector’s recovery and growth,” he warned.
The Immigration Department, he said, should also not continue to use the high number of arrivals at airports as an excuse for the long queues and waiting time.
“We are in competition with other foreign airports whose immigration clearance is more efficiently handled.
“The inefficiencies seen in our airports put Malaysia in a negative light and will ultimately turn away vast numbers of tourists.
“We need to deal with the problem at hand, rather than let the problems snowball and foment a negative international image to our detriment,” he added.
