Entry denied: Dozens of Malaysian holidaymakers are not allowed to enter Thailand due to passport problems, tax arrears and criminal proceedings

ALOR SETAR, Sept 16 – Dozens of Malaysian holidaymakers planning to travel to Thailand over the long weekend saw their dreams dashed at the border gate due to passport problems, income tax arrears, customs fees and unresolved old criminal cases.

Kedah Immigration Director Mohd Ridzzuan Mohd Zain said the issues were discovered through data provided by the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam.

“There were 10 cases of damaged passports, for example, they were torn or damaged by water, had missing pages or had scratches.

“In addition, there are 20 cases related to income tax arrears and nine cases involving customs matters, making this cross-border journey even more challenging for those involved,” he said in a statement today.

To avoid last-minute stress and disappointment, all Malaysians are advised to check their travel status online on the Immigration's Travel Check System (SSPI) portal before planning any overseas trip.

“They just need to enter their MyKad number into the SSPI portal to know whether they are on the travel restriction list or not,” he said. — Bernama