by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
Taiwan criticized Malaysia on Friday, for removing its national flag from the automated immigration clearance signs at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated that Malaysia’s actions have severely harmed bilateral relations and called for an immediate correction. The flag had been removed from a display indicating which passport holders could use the “immigration auto gate” for expedited entry.
Taiwan’s representative office in Kuala Lumpur has lodged a formal complaint with Malaysia’s foreign ministry and the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre. While Malaysian officials reassured Taiwan that the automated immigration process for Taiwanese passport holders would not be affected, the MOFA plans to continue discussions to ensure the dignity of Taiwan is upheld and that Taiwanese travelers retain their conveniences.
In May, Malaysia announced that travelers from 36 low-risk regions, including Taiwan, would be eligible for automated immigration clearance starting June 1. This followed the inclusion of travelers from 10 countries—Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the US, and the UK—who had already benefited from this system since December.
After Taiwan’s inclusion, it allowed Malaysian passport holders to use its own automated immigration system, or e-gate, starting November 7.
