23-04-2025
‘Don't let tourists abuse visa to do business in Sabah'
Michael Lui
KOTA KINABALU (April 23): Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SUCCC) and Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce (KKCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui has expressed concern that tourists from China will abuse visa convenience to do business in the country.
He welcomed the extension of the visa exemption between Malaysia and China allowing Chinese nationals to stay in the country for up to 90 days as tourists for five years.
China will also give Malaysia the same treatment.
'This good news is one of the memorandums of understanding signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Malaysia. It is a positive result of Malaysia and China celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and jointly launching a new 'Golden 50 Years'! It is also the best portrayal of the friendly relations between Malaysia and China in the community of shared destiny reiterated by President Xi Jinping, which promotes global cooperation and common development, making the relationship between Malaysia and China increasingly close and solid,' he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Lui called on the relevant government departments to take preventive measures against the abuse of visa convenience by tourists to do business in the country.
'Foreign merchants (not just from China) have been dumping products at low prices in Malaysia, which has severely hit local business community and made people worry that the Malaysian market will be monopolized by foreign merchants in the future,' he said.
He also cited the recent emergence of Chinese tourists doing business in Semporna, from operating restaurants to providing one-stop services for boats and transportation. It has seriously affected the local businesses.
'We urge the relevant authorities to take immediate actions to curb it,' he said.
Lui welcomed foreign investors or foreign businessmen to invest in Sabah. If they come in as tourists to dump and monopolize the market, and do not earn foreign exchange for Sabah it will lead to an unhealthy situation and hit local businesses.
In view of this, he urged the Malaysian government to establish a mechanism to prevent foreigners from engaging in unfair competition and monopoly, so as to support and protect local businesses.
