Malaysia not on US travel ban list

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is not on US President Donald Trump's travel ban list, which currently comprises Iraq, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia.
A US Embassy spokesperson said Malaysia is not affected and citizens can continue to travel to the US with legitimate visas.
"The Executive Order stands as it was issued last week. Malaysia is not on the list of countries affected by the Executive Order. Malaysians can continue to travel to the United States with a valid visa," he told theSun through text today.
He said the US government will continue to facilitate legitimate travel for international visitors while the current suspension will give it time to review screening procedures while ensuring security of the country's borders.
He said, however, that a report from activists No Ban JFK/ No Ban USA which suggests Malaysians may have been detained could not be confirmed at press time.
A press release posted on the group's website today included Malaysia among 20 countries that 71 detainees were coming from.
No Ban JFK/ No Ban USA are a group of lawyers, volunteers, and activists stationed at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York, assisting those detained under Trump's ban.
Trump signed an executive order banning travel from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia on Jan 27 for 90 days while suspending all refugee admissions for 120 days.
The ban has been widely condemned as islamophobic and has affected scores from the affected countries, including those who have had their visas previously approved and permanent US residents.
Travelers from the countries have been detained in airports in the US and reportedly interrogated for hours while some have even been sent back to the country they were traveling from.