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GEORGE TOWN – Wisma Putra refuted media reports that some 10,000 Malaysians have been stranded as illegal immigrants in southern Thailand, saying the figure was baseless and in fact much smaller than that.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is now checking with its consulate-general in the Thai province of Songkhla, which shares borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah and Perlis, on the matter.
It said in a statement that it is also looking into reports that Malaysian citizens who had entered Thailand using the Malaysia-Thailand border pass could not return home due to the movement control order (MCO) implemented in March 2020 and the closing of international borders.
“Based on preliminary investigations, the allegations that up to 10,000 Malaysians are still in Thailand illegally or overtime are baseless, and the ministry is confident that the number is much smaller,” it said
Since the implementation of the MCO, the ministry and consulate-general have extended assistance to more than 2,439 Malaysian citizens who wanted to return home.
Based on the records of the consulate-general, there are to date only 72 Malaysian citizens registered with it and who hold border passes. They are among the 444 Malaysians who have registered with the consulate-general, Wisma Putra said.
The statement, however, acknowledged the difficulties faced by Malaysians due to the border closure since March 2020.
Additionally, the Thai government had announced in February 2021 that all foreigners holding short-term tourist visas must leave the country or be penalised.
The consulate-general has also helped renew the international Malaysian passports of citizens intending to apply for visa extension in Thailand, while an emergency certificate has been issued to allow those whose passports have expired to return to Malaysia.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry through the Malaysian consulate-general in Songkhla is very concerned and always ready to extend consular assistance to Malaysian citizens affected by the closure of the Malaysia-Thailand border,” it said.
The ministry advised affected Malaysians in Thailand to contact the consulate-general for appropriate assistance.
On Thursday, The Vibes had quoted Mohammad Abu Yazid, Malaysia’s consul-general in Songkhla, as saying that they are monitoring the situation and what was reported in the media, and also the number of people claimed to have been stranded.
Those stranded are believed to have gone to visit family or do business in the Satun, Sadao, Songkhla, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces in Southern Thailand.
The said individuals are reportedly required to pay a fine of 20,000 Thai baht (RM2,526) each before they can leave the country to go home.
Some of the stranded Malaysians claimed that the Malaysian consulate offices had rejected numerous applications to renew their travel permits, leaving them little choice but to stay put until they are granted legal passage.
The royal Thai consul-general in Penang, Raschada Jiwalai, also said that the number of stranded people is exaggerated.
“These people could have other problems with their travel documents,” he said. “As I know, there were ministry-level discussions between Thailand and Malaysia to allow the citizens of both countries to cross borders without hassle.” – The Vibes, April 9, 2022