A Malaysian woman’s planned trip to Hatyai, Thailand with her family ended before it even began recently after she was barred from leaving the country due to an overdue income tax payment to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
Worse, she only found out about being blacklisted by the Malaysian Immigration Department at ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah after already braving hours of traffic congestion from Ayer Keroh, Melaka with her family.
Malaysian woman barred from leaving the country after travelling from Melaka to Bukit Kayu Hitam border
Shared by the Kedah Immigration Department on Facebook, the 45-year-old woman, known as Maznah, was 1 of some 40 Malaysians who were stopped by the department from leaving the country for various reasons.
Maznah shared that she joined her extended family for a holiday at Hatyai during this long weekend but was left at a loss after finding out her name was on the Immigration Department’s blacklist.
She shared,
“I was really excited to eat ‘original’ Tom Yum in Hatyai and go on a holiday with my extended family but everything fell apart. I didn’t know I had a tax issue.”
Johor family had to cancel their trip to Hatyai after their son’s passport was damaged
Besides Maznah’s story, another Malaysian family also found themselves unable to continue their journey to Hatyai, but this time due to a damaged passport.
Ramesh, 36, from Gelang Patah, Johor shared that his family’s booked hotel reservation had to be forfeited after his son’s passport was found to be damaged.
He shared,
“We’ve booked the hotel and accommodations, we planned to go on a holiday for 3 days. But when we arrived at the immigration counter, the officer told us that my son’s passport was damaged.
“I didn’t notice that there were drawings and scribbles on the passport. Our plans are now ruined.”
Overall, in the past 2 or 3 days, the Kedah Immigration Department revealed that there were 20 cases involving Malaysians being barred from leaving overseas due to LHDN-related issues, 9 involving the customs department and 10 cases of damaged passports.
Hence, the department urges travellers to check their status through the official portal here.
So, what do you guys think of the Kedah Immigration Department’s sharing? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
