17 March 2012 | Last updated at 09:43AM

Immigration admits visa facility being abused

NOT FOOLPROOF: Department says move was to ease public’s dealings

THE Immigration Department yesterday acknowledged that the long-term (five-year) foreign spousal visa facility introduced by the government on the advice of Pemudah in April 2010 had been abused by some parties.

Immigration director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said yesterday the revised visa provision, which was previously issued on a yearly basis, was in response to complaints by Malaysians married to foreigners that it was troublesome for them to go to the department for annual renewals.

He said the department had, on May 3, 2010, amended the department's circular to ease the public's dealings and facilitated the issuance of long-term visas to foreign spouses.

Alias said the facility was subject to the department's rulings to ensure it was not abused.

Applicants were also required to produce their marriage registration certificate from the National Registration Department, a notarial certificate from the foreign spouse's government, proof of income and wedding photos.

"Couples are also required to undergo interviews by the department to weed out marriages of convenience.

"Those irresponsible try to take advantage of this facility, which is meant to help Malaysians and their foreign spouses," he said in a statement.

The statement was in reaction to the New Straits Times front-page report on Thursday that a "visa loophole" was boosting the sex trade in the country.

Alias also said the department would, from time to time, conduct enforcement rounds to keep a check on the problem.

The report, which came with a video surveillance footage taken by the NST during a two-week stakeout, among others said that syndicates were matching Malaysian men to foreign women just so they could get their "working girls" long-term stays.

The men were allegedly paid between RM3,000 and RM5,000 for their willingness to become "husbands", on paper, to these women.

Alias said any abuse of passes under Immigration laws and regulations, would result in the visas being revoked and holders being deported.

They would also be blacklisted from entering the country.

NRD statistics, said Alias, showed that 7,921 marriages to foreign spouses were recorded last year. Of the figure, 2,482 were from Vietnam, 2,089 from China, 1,334 from Indonesia and 2,016 from other countries.

Alias asked the public with information on abuse of passes or the crime of "marriages of convenience" to facilitate investigations and lodge a report with either the Immigration Department, NRD or the police.

Alias' statement came following a meeting held at the ministry earlier which was attended by representatives from NRD, Immigration and Pemudah. The meeting was chaired by Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam.

Immigration admits visa facility being abused - General - New Straits Times