PUTRAJAYA, July 31- The Immigration Department has shortened the Visa On Arrival (VOA) from 90 days to 14 days to citizens from countries that make Malaysia a transit country for illegal stay in Australia.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move was taken at the request of the Australian government.
However, he declined to name the countries affected by the move.
“The latest move by Australia to house refugees in Papua New Guinea is good as it will check the refugee problem as Malaysia and other Asean countries are often used as transit countries before they continue the journey to Australia.”
Ahmad Zahid was speaking at a press conference after receiving a courtesy call from the Australia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Miles Kuppa at his office here today.
On the spate of shootings recently, he said the police should not be blamed for them as it face shortage in manpower and equipment compared to developed countries.
“For example, in New York, a policeman serves 35 residents while a policeman in Malaysia serves 700 residents.”
He admitted that one of the factors for the spike in the crime rate was the release of detainees from Simpang Renggam prison.
The ministry will enhance border security to check smuggling of firearms and consider buying new equipment and installing more CCTV cameras to check crime.
On the threat posed by Shia, he said the ministry will collaborate with the National Fatwa Council and State Islamic Affairs Councils to check the belief.
Meanwhile, Australia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Miles Kuppa said asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat will be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing.
“The Australian government wants to send a message to human trafficking syndicates and asylum seekers that there is no point of going to Australia without proper visas and documents as they will be sent to Papua New Guinea.”
On July 19, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said asylum seekers who arrive by boat had no chance of settling in Australia as refugees as Australia had a deal with Papua New Guinea on asylum seekers.
Rudd and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had signed an agreement on asylum seekers.
The asylum seekers will be sent to Papua New Guinea for assessment, and if they are found to be refugees, they will be resettled there, and if not, they will be sent back to their own countries or a third country.
“The agreement is aimed at stopping human trafficking,” said Rudd.
– BERNAMA
