During a recent Committee on Public Finance (COPF) meeting the official from the Department of Immigration and Emigration said over 14,300 visas have been issued to date to individuals entering the Port City Project.
During the COPF meeting parliamentarians raised serious concerns regarding transparency, accountability and visa monitoring within the Port City project.
The questioning led notably by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and other committee members focused on the immigration landing endorsements and visas issued to individuals entering the project.
When committee members queried the immigration and project officials on whether they actively monitor individuals following their arrival and ensure they comply with the mandatory 30-day regulatory processes to regularize their documentation, officials said that tracking whether every single visitor arrives or completes the required steps is limited to periodic monthly reporting rather than real-time individual checks.
Lawmakers criticized this lack of rigorous continuous oversight, questioning how authorities can vouch for all 14,000-plus visa holders or effectively guarantee accountability.
Furthermore, discussions addressed administrative shortcomings, including the absence of a dedicated Legal Director post for such a major organization, which critics argue undermines the speed and transparency of bringing in legitimate investments. (Newswire)