Fuss-free entry into Malaysia for athletes

Dedicated arrival lanes to be provided for KL2017 participants

SEPANG: Dedicated immigration lanes will be set up at Malaysian entry points to allow a seamless arrival experience for participants of the 29th South-East Asian Games and the 9th Asean Para Games (KL2017).

The Youth and Sports Ministry and the Immigration Department have entered into a special collaboration to ensure that the visiting contingents of KL2017 enjoy a fuss-free entry into the country for the games.

“We want to ensure that athletes and training staff from visiting contingents are given the best impression upon arriving in the country.

“For example, as soon as they get off the plane, there will be officers as well as signs to guide them on where to go.

“They will be directed to the special immigration lanes and then to a counter where they can get their accreditation passes.

“After that, they will be taken to their vehicles, which will transport them to their hotels,” said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin during a press conference at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

The entry points include KLIA, KLIA2, the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, as well as the land entry points in Johor (Johor Causeway and the Second Link) and Kedah’s Bukit Kayu Hitam.

Assisting the Immigration Department will be the Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee, which will provide the arrival details of each visiting contingent to the department.

Khairy said members of visiting contingents from countries that require visas to enter Malaysia would be given waivers during the games.

“Although most of the athletes will not require visas to enter Malaysia, there will be coaches or trainers coming from countries such as China or India.

“These people will be allowed temporary visa-free travel from Aug 10 to Sept 30,” he added.

Khairy also said that while visiting contingents would be accorded seamless entry, security would not be compromised.

“We are confident that the Immigration Department will do a good job,” he said.

Also present at the press conference was Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

Mustafar said the department would ensure that at least four special Immigration lanes were dedicated for KL2017 participants.

The SEA Games will be held from Aug 19 to Aug 30, while the Asean Para Games will be held from Sept 17 to Sept 23.