Malaysia to ease visa restrictions for Indian, Chinese tourists

The Malaysian government has decided to relax visa restrictions for tourists from India and China in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014 next year, a government official said Tuesday. Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told local reporters that Indian and Chinese tourists will be granted the visa-on-arrival ( VoA) facility, but only for those who enter Malaysia through a third country. Currently, India and China passport holders are required to apply for a visa for travelling to Malaysia. Malaysia had in 2010 scrapped the VoA facility offered to visitors from eight countries, including China and India, due to visa abuse. It is reported that thousands of tourists have abused their VoA, which was introduced in 2006 in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007, by overstaying. According to Immigration Division, there were 39,000 Indian nationals and 6,000 Chinese citizens who have overstayed in Malaysia.