KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has clarified that recent allegations suggesting 1.2 million Chinese tourists have remained in Malaysia are untrue. He stated that the actual number of Chinese nationals currently in the country on social visit passes is 84,817.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the minister explained that from January 1, 2018, to the present, Malaysia has received a total of 8,491,653 Chinese tourists. Out of this number, 8,012,294 have already departed the country.

The remaining 479,359 individuals who have not left Malaysia consist of 129,005 people with long-term visas, 5,359 who were deported for offenses under various laws, 141,783 with special passport applications, and others held in the Immigration Department Detention Depot.

Minister Saifuddin stressed that of those who arrived, 84,817 individuals with social visit passes have yet to leave. He urged the public to disregard unfounded claims of 1.2 million Chinese tourists failing to exit the country.
He also refuted allegations that the Home Ministry is approving citizenships in a wholesale manner, labeling them as gross slander. The minister made these remarks while concluding the policy-level debate on the Supply Bill 2025 (Budget 2025) for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.