Govt urged to settle row through diplomatic means

KATHMANDU, JAN 06 -

Malaysia VLN Nepal, a Nepali firm providing documentation services to the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu , has asked the government to resolve a dispute over the visa processing fee through diplomatic channels instead of making a company an “easy target” for cheap popularity.

In September 2013, the Malaysian government increased the visa processing charge for Nepalis more than five-fold.

The embassy currently charges Rs 3,900 compared to Rs 700 previously. The Malaysian government has refused to reduce the fee despite repeated requests from the Nepal government.

The parliamentary International Relations and Labour Committee on Friday decided to direct authorities concerned to scrap the registration and suspend daily operations of Malaysia VLN Nepal citing irregularities while obtaining the licence.

Committee Chairman Prabhu Sah said the company had been engag-ed in providing services despite being registered as a manufacturing firm. He accused the company of not acquiring prior permission of the Nepal government.

“The company has violated the existing legal requirements. There should be a thorough investigation into its activities. It should also reimburse the money taken from the workers,” he told the Post.  

Representatives of Malaysia VLN Nepal refuted the charges at a press meet held on Monday. They produced documents before the media showing that the company had fulfilled all the legal requirements for registration.

The documents reveal the Malaysian Embassy had informed the Foreign Ministry about entry of agent in visa processing with revision in fee. The firm has also taken approval from Labour Ministry, Nepal Rastra Bank, Finance Ministry and Department of Foreign Employment to do the job.

Malaysia VLN Nepal Chair-man Ram Prasad Shrestha said his company had

not received any letter from the government, and that it would continue offering its services.

He added his company was just a local firm working on behalf of Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd, a software company accredited by the Malaysian government to provide visa processing services in many countries including China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

“We also think that charging Rs 3,900 for a visa is very high. But the decision was made by the Malaysian government. We want the government to end this row through diplomatic means instead of bringing a local company in the middle.”

Of the 105 ringgit in commission per applicant that goes to Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd, Shrestha said his firm gets 5 ringgit. And, the rest 100 ringgit goes to Ultra Kirana’s central office in Hong Kong.

The government had formally requested Malaysia to roll back the hike in visa processing costs during Malaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Nepal visit in April, and Malaysian Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem’s visit in August 2014.

Source: The Kathmandu Post