PUTRAJAYA: The Home Minister has stated that airline companies, not third parties, will be responsible for repatriating travelers who have received a “Not to Land” (NTL) order in accordance with international regulations. This decision was made after a thorough discussion on the NTL issue at KLIA during the Cabinet’s weekly meeting. The International Civil Aviation Organization regulations clearly state that airline companies are accountable for passengers who are turned away or denied entry. Before issuing a boarding pass, airline companies must ensure that travelers have a return ticket. If a traveler arrives without one and is denied entry, it is the airline’s responsibility to fly the person back home. Malaysian immigration laws also support the airlines’ responsibility for deporting such travelers. The Home Minister announced that discussions between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Transport will take place to determine the appropriate implementation timeframe for this procedure. They will also discuss the role of the third party appointed by the Airline Operators Committee in 2015. In the first half of the year, KLIA received a total of 3,984,823 travelers, with 14,973 of them being issued NTL, predominantly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.
On another note, the Home Minister confirmed that the Chinese national involved in an incident at KLIA had indeed left the country, contradicting reports claiming there was no record of her departure. The woman departed on Shenzen Airlines flight ZH9030 on July 4 at 8.55pm. The news report had attempted to challenge a statement made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner, who had confirmed the departure of the two women involved in the commotion at KLIA. The woman from China alleged that she was detained by immigration officers at KLIA on June 29, despite having valid travel documents. She claimed that she was denied entry and was asked to pay a substantial amount if she wished to be allowed into the country. Her superior, a senior official of a Chinese government-owned TV station, accompanied her during the trip.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
