Bukit Kayu Hitam AKPS commander Fauzi Yusof said of the total, 14 were Indian nationals, including a woman, Bernama reported.

He said all the foreigners, in their 20s and 40s, failed to meet the requirements as tourists, including not having return tickets.

They also could not provide immigration officers with a clear purpose for their visits.

“Some were also in the department’s list of ‘suspicious names’.”

Fauzi said another five Thai nationals were denied entry after using damaged passports and failing to meet the country’s entry requirements.

Two Bangladeshi men were also denied entry as they are not allowed to use land entry points, in accordance with current departmental directives.

He said the remaining cases involved nationals from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Indonesia, who were refused entry due to various non-compliance issues with stipulated entry requirements.

All the visitors were instructed to return to the last country they departed from.

Fauzi said his officers had been directed to tighten controls at the country’s entry points to ensure only genuine visitors who meet the requirements are allowed in.