By Farrah Naz Karim
IT could be argued that genuine tourists drawn to the nation’s first-class shopping, the magnificent vistas and the warmth of her citizenry, could be persuaded, or even encouraged, to return.
They will be happy to spread the word to their friends, citing a safe and secure environment, free of “black money scams” and offerings of “Shag-hai” nights — thanks to strict border controls.
The premise is not at all impossible. After all, millions fly in to popular tourists destinations such as London, Singapore, Australia and the United States, the biggest bulls’ eye in every terrorist organisation’s sight, and the border controls in place here are so tight that even an Alabama tick can’t even get through.
A simple analogy would be the quintessential Malaysian tradition of the open house. We open the doors to our home on every festive occasion. We share the food, invite our friends and loved ones to partake in the festivities, but there is a screening process that takes place, whether one realises it or not.
It may be in the form of a subtle, unobtrusive “Hello, how are you? I’ve never seen you around here before. Where exactly do you live?”, or the more direct “Party’s over. Please leave.”
The Tourism Ministry has steadily increased tourist arrivals to the country by at least a million for each year for the last three years and is hoping to hit the 29 million target by 2015. The reason behind the easing of the security measures is naturally to promote tourism but the entry of the “extra” will harm the nation’s reputation.
The more pressing issue is security. Already, law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed by the crushing load of cases involving foreign nationals. The cost of hiring additional boots on the ground and deploying equipment, and to boost police presence is another drain on our resources.
It must now be asked if foreign crime gangs from South America, Eastern Europe and China were exploiting the no-questions-asked circular.
A more cost-effective solution would be to free the Immigration Department of its shackles and let it do its job.
In the case of spousal visa abuse, the National Registration Department can also play a role as a Tier One security checkpoint since it is the one tasked with marrying these couples in the first place.
The Immigration officers are, after all, the nation’s first line of defence and gatekeepers.
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