Malaysia scraps visa-on-arrival facility

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has scrapped the visa-on-arrival facility for Indian nationals along with those of 26 other nations, visitors from where will now have to apply for a visa from their respective countries.

A foreign ministry official said the visa-on-arrival facility had been abolished for 27 countries including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other nations from Africa from August one.

He said the Home Ministry had issued a circular to this effect last week.

A news report published in the local media in June had said this facility had been suspended for Indian nationals, but authorities had then denied taking any such decision.

A large number of Indians visit Malaysia throughout the year, many of them for shopping.