KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Bernama) — Malaysia is confident that its nationals, except students, will continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Britain.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said this was based on proactive measures taken by Kuala Lumpur during the past year on the visa issue as well as strong Malaysian engagement with Britain.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Britain’s Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Jeremy Browne after the signing of a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation on immigration, Hishammuddin said the MoU would further strengthen trust between the two countries on this matter.

“One area we can confirm is the visa issue…as you all know there’s no requirement for Malaysians to have the visa, which was an issue before. I think that’s based on a very strong engagement and building of processes between (the two) countries and agencies concerned. And the signing of the MoU will strengthen that arrangement even further.

“So, issues such as withdrawal of visa for Malaysian nationals with children in the United Kingdom and all that will not crop up, I hope, in the future, provided that Malaysians who do go to the UK behave themselves,” he said.

Malaysia was represented at the signing by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop and Britain by Browne.

Last year, there were reports that Britain may revisit its proposal to impose visa requirements on Malaysians if the issue of overstaying was not handled properly.

As of January last year, reports indicated that there were about 20,000 Malaysian overstayers in Britain.

“There were worries that the visa-free travel to Britain for Malaysians may be withdrawn but it’s clear that our engagement (with Britain) over the past year has inspired confidence in the UK government that Malaysians are still (qualified to enjoy) visa-free travel to the UK.

“This should give a lot of comfort to Malaysian parents who’re very concerned in the beginning (that) there’s going to be a new policy (on the imposition of visa requirements on Malaysians).

“But clearly by engaging and having understanding such as this (MoU), it’ll allay fears that many Malaysian parents have,” he said.

Hishammuddin said Kuala Lumpur hoped to sign a security agreement with London during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s official visit to Britain scheduled for July, that may help resolve some of the issues involving Malaysians who were staying illegally there.

Source: MySinchew

SINGAPORE, April 5 (Bernama) — Tourism Malaysia Promotion Board is now tapping the senior citizens or “third golden age” market in Singapore as part of efforts to lure more of the republic’s aging population to visit Malaysia.

Tourism Malaysia Director in Singapore Zalizam Zakaria said retirees accounted for between 15 and 18 per cent of Singapore’s population of five million people.

“To attract them, we participated in the just-concluded annual “Active Ageing Carnival and 50plus Expo 2011″ at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre,” he told Bernama.

The annual event showcased various products and services tailored-made for senior citizens and attracted thousands of people, particularly, senior citizens.

Zalizam said Tourism Malaysia’s second outing to the exhibition was fully supported by the Singapore government.

“We participated last year for the first time and knowing that we can get good results, we came back again this year,” he said, adding that AirAsia and Singapore-based Facsinating Holidays, was also roped in to actively promote Malaysia among Singaporean retirees.

“We want to concentrate on this category because retirees have all the means to spend on vacations.

“They have all the free time as they don’t have to wait for school holidays or take leave to travel.

“Our survey revealed that they like to travel. Instead of remaining in Singapore, the retirees want to get out sometimes,” Zalizam said, adding that they preferred to visit destinations that took two to three hours of travelling time.

He said Malaysia was in a strategic position to capture this market because of its close proximity to the island.

“Within an hour or 50 minutes of travel time and they are already in Malaysia. In fact within two hours they will be as far as Sabah or Langkawi.

“So, Malaysia is the perfect destination for senior citizens from Singapore,” he said, adding that the 3GA category usually spent part of their savings on travel, food or medical treatment.

He said as people grew older, they tend to frequent hospitals.

Zalizam also said most Singaporean senior citizens have Medisave insurance policies, which provided coverage anywhere in the world including 12 hospitals in Malaysia.

“They can seek medical treatment through the insurance and this will further encourage them to come over to Malaysia,” he pointed out, adding that medical treatment was much cheaper in Malaysia.

— BERNAMA