THE Home Ministry has directed the Immigration Department to enforce stricter control at the two Labuan ferry terminals, especially for foreign travellers bound for the Sabah mainland.

Its minister Hamzah Zainudin said an allocation of RM200,000 had been approved for immediate action to be taken, such as the setup of specific checkpoint counters for people not from Sabah. 

“Stricter control is needed to ensure there will be no free flow of travellers at the main gate of the ferry terminals to mainland Sabah via Tanjung Pagar Sipitang, Menumbok and Jesselton jetties.

“Based on data, the number of travellers from Labuan travelling to Sabah through these ferry terminals is about 700,000 annually, which dropped 50% to 350,000 during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“And of the number, there are non-Sabahans as well, and there had been issues highlighted by the Sabah government on the abuse of the free-flow policy at the terminals and this had resulted in (entry into Sabah) being out of control. 

“My working visit today is to ensure these terminals will be given more attention for the safety of travellers in Sabah and Labuan… We never know (if the problem persists), travellers who are non-Sabahans could overstay in Sabah,” he said after visiting the roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) ferry terminal today. 

Hamzah said all travellers, including passengers (in vehicles via ro-ro ferry terminals) are subject to immigration checks. 

He said travellers not from Sabah are required to complete the required forms before they are allowed to travel to the Sabah mainland. 

“Foreigners must have their passports stamped by an immigration officer before passing through, and this stricter control is on the request of the Sabah government, which I agreed to,” he said. – Bernama, September 10, 2022.