NO TIME TO LEAVE
there was only a small window of time for foreigners to extend their social visit passes before the deadline expired yesterday. Notified by their embassies to leave the country if their passes had expired, those who failed to get an extension are now at a loss as they were unable to do so due to limited flights.
PETALING JAYA: An Australian expatriate suggested using the MySejahtera app to allow foreigners to request for an extension of their social visit passes in light of the movement control order.
Steve Daw, 65, who has lived in Malaysia for 25 years, also expressed frustration and disappointment at the authorities over the short deadline which expired yesterday.
“I met a couple who are stranded here and have not managed to get a supporting letter from their embassy. Forcing people to visit the embassy and immigration office more than once is extremely risky to everyone due to Covid-19,” he said.
He added that some foreigners trying to comply with yesterday’s deadline were also facing another challenge – lack of flights.
Some were left with no choice but to book flights early next month, he claimed, adding that the lack of clarity had also led to a chaotic rush to meet the deadline.
“I would suggest a simple process and the foreigners can be contacted by the authorities via MySejahtera when required,” he said.
Daw also recommended that the Malaysian government extend the deadline till the end of MCO to allow foreigners to plan their exit safely.
“This will reduce their risk of exposure to infection. We are all in this fight together,” he said.
Last week, foreigners in the country began receiving emails from their embassies advising them that they may have to leave the country before April 21 if their social visit passes expired on or after Jan 1, 2020.
On March 12, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin had said foreigners with expired social visit passes who are having difficulties returning to their country of origin could request for a special pass to extend their stay in the country but their applications must be supported by their respective embassies.
Hamzah said applications will be dealt with on a case-to-case basis.
For Sally, 66, an American who has been staying in Malaysia on a social visit pass, the end of the deadline has made her feel lost.
“I have an appointment with the Immigration Department in Putrajaya to request for an extension but my appointment is on May 3. I’m not sure what to do,” she said.
Sally said she visited the Penang Immigration Department’s office in Seberang Jaya on Tuesday but was not granted an extension.
“How I wish they had given more time. I’m eligible for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme in Sarawak and have been trying to get to Kuching for months as documents must be presented in person.
“But time has run out and the Sarawak border is still closed due to the pandemic,” she said.
Expressing her frustration, Sally described orders to make expats leave as a loss to the local economy.
“Forcing foreigners to return during a pandemic is dangerous and seems so wrong. I feel sad about the loss of income for locals making an income from expats living here,” said Sally, adding that she did not rely on the government for funds while staying in Malaysia.
She has not left Penang since February last year.
In an earlier interview, Sally, who volunteers at an animal shelter, said she preferred to stay in Malaysia because the climate was better suited for chronic asthma and inflammatory disease.
She was also unable to travel to Thailand where she has obtained a teaching job offer at a university as the borders are shut.
She made another attempt to visit the Immigration Department yesterday but the outcome is unknown as she was unreachable at press time.