Passenger screening system to prevent stranded visitors in KLIA

The Malaysian Immigration Department will implement a system to screen passengers and foreign visitors arriving in the country or on transit, to prevent individuals or groups being stranded in the country.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the implementation of the system which was currently at the discussion stage, would involve the ministry and various other related agencies.

"The system will detect foreign passengers with or without complete travelling documents and this will enable us to take the appropriate action.

"At the moment, we have set up a special team to monitor daily stranded visitors (in our airports)," he told Bernama.

Ahmad Zahid said the special team will be headed by a Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) officer monitoring the KLIA terminal building daily for suspicious individuals found violating regulations or laws of the country.

"In fact, we will ensure the Immigration Department and MAHB inform the related embassies to assist if such incidents recur," he said.

Ahmad Zahid was commenting on reports of the KLIA transit area being occupied by stranded foreign visitors.

On July 14, a Syrian family of six and a Palestinian were found stranded at the KLIA transit area since July 1.

The Syrian family that arrived from Abu Dhabi claimed they lost their passports and US$10,000 (RM31,000) to a man who promised to take them to Sweden via Malaysia but had been missing since.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian national, Mohammed Abdulabbad, 26, was found camping in the transit area after being denied by the Egyptian Airline to fly back to his home in Gaza, since he did not have a visa to enter Egypt.