Why not a special lane for Sabahans?
Published on: Sunday, August 04, 2019
Text Size:
Formerly, we had a Sabahan as a Foreign Minister, but the Asean Lane that was proposed for Asean citizens was not even implemented here although Sabahan travellers to some Asean capitals noted the presence of Asean lanes at airports there.
West Malaysians showing their documents and obtaining papers registering their entry and stay in Sabah do take up more time than Sabahans presenting their identity cards. Therefore if a priority lane is reserved for Sabahans and permanent residents, they need not suffer delay inconvenience.
Besides, it also gives meaning and sense of belonging as Malaysians from the Borneo States if both Sabah and Sarawak implement this in line with Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Now Sabah has a Deputy Home Minister from the Sabah party that leads the State Government so it would be opportune to have a Sabah Lane, even using the VIP-Diplomat-Apec-Expatriate booth which benefited few foreigners more than locals. Apec is long over, but is coming back to the state capital in 2020.
KKIA is also not a very congested airport with many planes lining up for take-offs or circling Kota Kinabalu waiting for a slot to land. There is no need to rush to build another airport when government coffers are drier than before.
However, there is a real need to speed up clearance of immigration procedures with more staff and counters during periods when planes unload hundreds of passengers at peak arrival slots by domestic and international flights flooding the arrival immigration hall.
The first impression of KKIA by tourists is very important to attract repeat visitors. The Home Ministry and the Tourism Ministry should work hard to put cordial, smiling, polite, front-liners to man immigration and customs counters, not sullen, hostile-grim-looking, indifferent officers, who are not Sabahans or showing the friendly Sabahan spirit that locals are delighted with.
Your fine everybody’s favourite paper exposed how Immigration staff were not in their counters last year resulting in several Chinese tourists going straight through but arrested and detained at the Rumah Merah reserved for overstaying Filipino illegals all because there was no entry chop on their passports upon exiting.
All because it was no fault of theirs but the tendency of some unfriendly Immigration staff to prefer coffee breaks.
Thankfully, DCM Christina Liew and the China Consul here told the Immigration boss that this nonsense has to stop.
Subsequently, the Department assured that more Immigration staff will be available when more China flights are scheduled to arrive. Of course, what happened to the Immigration staff who played truant was not known, just like many other cases that are covered up.
Just like the staff at the detention centre who raped an illegal immigrant as complained by Pekida head Datu Akjan. Also, recently why a case involving a Sabah Federal Minister was deleted in the Court’s Central Monitoring System and how the case was reopened after the observant public complained to your paper.
Daily Express must keep up its good work. You are the public’s hope. Not the YBs nor the authorities as proven on many occasions.
JDT
n Thank you for your encouragement. While on the subject of special lane for Sabahans/PR holders which could be on the same lane as VIPs as this lane is hardly used, the Tourism Ministry could station musicians in traditional attire playing welcoming tunes during each arrival regardless of international or domestic as done in several countries like Pacific islands and Fiji.
These musicians can be a soothing relief until the passports are cleared which can take up to half and hour or more at times if there are many simultaneous arrivals
It will be the best cultural introduction. This is done in several resorts like Shangrila Tanjung Aru. – Ed
ADVERTISEMENT
