The Foreign Ministry has branded the claims made by local media that more than 10,000 Malaysians were trapped in Thailand as completely baseless. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said that the actual number of Malaysians still in Thailand illegally or overstaying is much smaller.
As reported by national news agency Bernama, the Foreign Ministry said since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was first implemented in March 2020, the ministry and the Malaysian Consulate General in Songkhla has provided assistance to more than 2,439 Malaysians who wish to return home.
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Furthermore, based on the records of the Consulate General, there are only 72 Malaysian citizens who are registered with the Consulate General and hold a Border Pass. That 72 citizen itself is part of only 444 Malaysian citizens who have registered with the Consulate General.
The ministry was responding to a local media reports claiming that over 10,000 Malaysians have become illegal immigrants in Thailand because their border passes have passed. The report further alleged that the situation occurred because they entered the country before the first MCO and failed to return home due to the closing of borders.
In February 2021, the Thai government had announced that all foreign nationals holding tourist/short-term visas must leave the country or they will be penalised if they failed to do so. Hence, the Malaysian Consulate General in Songkhla has assisted in terms of the renewal of the Malaysian International Passport (PMA) for Malaysian citizens who wish to apply for an extension of the visa period in Thailand. Furthermore, Emergency Certificates have also been issued to holders of expired Border Pass to enable them to return to Malaysia.
The Foreign Ministry also announced that Malaysian citizens in Thailand with expired travel documents who are affected by the closure of the border between the two countries are advised to attend the Malaysian Consulate General in Songkhla. The consulate will provide appropriate consular assistance. Any further inquiries on this matter can be submitted directly to the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla at (6674) 311 062 /316 274 or Email ym.vog.nlk@alhkgnoswm.
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