Malaysia to keep visa on arrival

Malaysia's deputy prime minister said Thursday a tourist-friendly visa programme will not be reviewed despite allowing thousands of foreigners to stay in the country illegally.
The expanded programme, launched prior to a "Visit Malaysia 2007" tourism campaign, was offered to citizens from 24 countries that previously required an advance visa to enter Malaysia -- such as Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Nepal.
Immigration authorities have called for the scrapping of the programme which allows visitors to apply for a one-month visa when they arrive.
Government statistics have showed that more than 40,000 foreigners have stayed in the country illegally since its introduction in September 2006.
"No, there is no review, visa on arrival remains," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak told reporters.