‘GET APEC CARD FOR SMOOTHER TRAVEL’
It cuts red tape by giving frequent travellers pre-cleared entry to 19 countries
OOI TEE CHING
KUALA LUMPUR bt@mediaprima.com.my
FREQUENT business travellers have been urged to take advantage of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) business travel card.
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said instead of applying for individual visas for 19 Apec member countries, a businessman could apply for an Apec business travel card.
Apec’s 21 member economies are the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Mustafar said Malaysians would still require visas if they were travelling to the US and Canada.
Also present was Apec Business Advisory Council Malaysia lead member Tan Sri Azman Hashim.
He said the Apec business travel card cut red tape by giving frequent travellers pre-cleared entry to the countries.
To qualify as a “verified business person”, he said one must be involved in the trade of goods or services between countries.
Professional athletes, news correspondents or artistes would not qualify for an Apec business travel card.
“I use this card when I travel within Apec. It only costs me RM100 and can be renewed every five years,” said Azman, who is also chairman of Malaysia’s sixth largest bank, AMMB Holdings Bhd.
Mustafar said the Apec business travel card was especially useful for those visiting China, which had strict business visa requirements.
Since its introduction in 1997, he said the Immigration Department had processed 70,000 Apec business travel cards. To date, there are around 15,000 active users in Malaysia.
Mustafar gave the assurance that the Immigration Department vetted applicants of the Apec business travel cards thoroughly. This is to ensure they are not bankrupts, tax evaders or loan defaulters.