Three more tourists detained

The Sabah Immigration Department is in the process of investigating why the passports of three China tourists, now held at the Tawau Airport, have not been stamped upon their arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), in the latest incident involving international arrivals.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew said she was informed of the matter by Sabah Immigration Director Dato’ Dr Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin.

“The status of these three China tourists is pending completion of investigation by the immigration authorities in Tawau. The director has assured me that the trio will be released if they are found to have not committed any criminal offences,” she said in a statement issued here on Monday.

Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, added that she had also communicated with the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide.

The three tourists arrived in Kota Kinabalu on Jan 1 and flew to Tawau the same day. They were scheduled to return to Hong Kong yesterday.

In December last year, four women tourists from China were kept in detention for 18 days in Tawau for failing to have their passports stamped upon arrival at KKIA.

Meanwhile, Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) yesterday thanked Liew for her immediate action on the latest case involving three Chinese tourists.

Satta president Datuk Seri Winston Liaw said the problems lied in the layout of KKIA and lack of announcement on flights before arrival at the airport.

He believed that Liew and the

Immigration Department have examined the loopholes of the exit points whereby tourists were often misled by the signages for domestic and international arrivals.

He emphasized that the design of KKIA should separate domestic arrivals within Sabah and international arrivals.

“For international arrivals, tourists should go through a door which lead them to the immigration counters before boarding their flights to domestic destinations instead of wandering freely like what is happening in KKIA now.”

Liaw suggested that Gate A8, A9 and A10 should be designated solely for domestic flights within Sabah, while domestic arrivals were to exit via Gate A10 where no immigration checks were

required.

Meanwhile, he said Gate B1 to B6 and A1 to A7 should serve international and West Malaysia flights only.

“A partition should be built between Gate A7 and A8 to separate the domestic arrivals from within Sabah from international and West Malaysia arrivals,” he said.

He said there should be an access door in front of the partition, as well as immigration counters for passengers from international arrivals who are transiting to domestic flights.

“This is to ensure the transit passengers go through the immigration counters before heading off to the domestic gates.

“I believe such measures will solve the problems.”