Rais: Malaysia won’t ‘retaliate’ against UK visa ruling

So at what power Malaysia has the strength to punish UK ? Stop the British tourists coming in ? Chase all the British expat home ? Cakap saja, nothing much to say in raya meh ?

Make Malaysian ringgit the strongest in the world and see the British abuse visa of Malaysia. Can that day come in, wow, the strongest ringgit in the world ??


The Star Online > Nation Wednesday October 1, 2008 MYT 4:47:15 PM
Rais: Malaysia won’t ‘retaliate’ against UK visa ruling
By CHOI TUCK WO
LONDON: Malaysia has no intention of retaliating against Britain even if a visa ruling was imposed on its nationals travelling to the country, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
He, however, said the government might be encouraged to tell Malaysian parents to look elsewhere if their children were continuously subjected to strict visa regimentation “without legal basis or fairness” in Britain.
“It’s not wrong for us to tell them to look for places like Australia, the United States or other European countries,” he told Malaysian journalists after hosting a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Rumah Malaysia in Hampstead, north-west London, on Tuesday.
Dr Rais and his wife Datin Seri Masnah Rais (on the left) cutting a Hari Raya cake, watched by Malaysian High Commissioner Datuk Abdul Aziz Mohamed and his wife, Datin Munah Abdul Razak.
More than 1,000 guests, including three Asean ambassadors -- Edgardo B. Espiritu (the Philippines), Kitti Wasinondh (Thailand) and Yuri Octavian Thamrin (Indonesia) -- attended the event at the residence of Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Abdul Aziz Mohamed.
Dr Rais, who was here on transit from New York where he attended the United Nations General Assembly, said he believed Britain would be fair enough in its treatment of Malaysian students and will re-examine the situation.
“If (Britain’s) findings are based on legal norms and practices, we should not take reciprocal steps,” he said in response to complaints of Malaysian students facing stringent visa regulations, especially post-graduate students who were facing problems in bringing their families to Britain.
The minister added he believed parents would still send their children to study in Britain despite the rigid system and rising costs of education.
Dr Rais admitted that Malaysia’s visa evaluation had been adversely affected following the latest report which placed the country as among the top five whose citizens are consistently being denied entry into Britain.
Based on Home Office statistics, Malaysians are also among the top 10 nationalities who overstay and in the top 20 for overall immigration abuses.
Britain is currently conducting the third and final stage of its visa-waiver test for Malaysia and 10 other countries and a decision is expected early next year.
Dr Rais said the requirements to avoid a visa regime change included Malaysia’s proof of a marked drop in the tendency to abuse visas and its ongoing public goodwill programmes.
“Those involved in visa abuses must be ready to own up and return to Malaysia,” he said, adding Malaysians must take stock of the laws of other countries.
He said he would make another representation to British Foreign Secretary David Miliband for a closer look at Malaysia’s efforts in curbing the propensity of visa abuse cases in Britain.
“Our only hope is that through diplomatic channels, the windows are opened for us to re-negotiate with the British authorities.”
Dr Rais hoped the conglomerate of viewpoints would be considered, granted that Malaysia was traditionally a close ally, a friend and a country that had been with Britain “through thick and thin.”
© 1995-2008 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Comments

Anonymous said…
Whover let in the 3.1 million foreign non citizens to Malaysia ?Thank you GBritain for teaching us a lesson on how to to do damage control on the avalance of illegal and foregners taking haven in so porous and generous malaysia.the 100 odd capsising accidents in P Klang is not going to make a dent in the reduction of the 3.1 non citizens taking refuge in malsyai, 1,5 million are Selangot alone.So YB Rais just apply GB s laws for Malaysia and do us taxpayers a big favour.Just do yr job as what we paid you instaed of cutting cakes.
what's wrong with his comments??? . I dont know la you people.. always negative minded!!. The students in Uk r not refuge nor illigal workers dud...
Anonymous said…
Double dud here,dunno whose comments r u refering to.Dud was jes asking YB Rais to take a English leaf and apply to Malaysia lor ? ie English minded laws for the 3.1 million foreigners who ar students refugees and illegals etc oso leh.UK entries at England ,jes folo English laws meh.Foreign entrant to Msia folo malaysin lwas with english standards. Ming pai ? Double dud to kamk.