Deputy Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg said as Sarawak is actively promoting incoming tourists from China, entry passes to the state should be issued at all ICQS for their convenience.
However, he said with Kuching currently being the only entry point to Sarawak equipped with the Visa-On-Arrival facility for tourists from China, the state government was seeking the federal government’s cooperation to allow all ICQS in the state to issue entry passes to Sarawak, as such a move would benefit both the federal and state governments.
He pointed out that Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) provided the power to the Minister, by way of notification in the Official Gazette, to approve routes and declare such immigration control posts, airports or points of entry, that the Minister deemed as necessary.
“In this regard, the Sarawak Tourism Ministry has written to the Deputy Prime Minister who is also the Home Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on this matter, but as of today, there has yet to be a reply,” he told a press conference at his office here today.
“Sarawak is firmly of the view that the Director of Sarawak Immigration Department has the authority to issue the Entry Passes under Part VII of the Immigration Act 1959/63, under the direction of the State Authority which is the sole authority in regard to entry into or remaining in, or residing in the State of Sarawak,” said Abang Johari, who is also Sarawak Tourism Minister.
“Thus, we use this authority to allow tourist to come into Sarawak via Miri (airport) and Sungai Tujuh (ICQS), based on what we call the Entry Pass for Tourists,” he said.
The deputy chief minister said the move was also aimed at taking advantage of Brunei’s campaign to lure more tourists from China, so that they will also visit Sarawak.
He said according to Tourism Malaysia, 1.5 million tourists from China spent an average of RM3,335 per person, bringing the total to some RM5 billion between January and November last year.
Abang Johari said Sarawak was expected to see the arrival of approximately 10 chartered flights from China within the last two months of the year and with the growing demand, there was a possibility that it would become “scheduled chartered flights” in the near future.