Sadao border Custom practice
During my trip to Hatyai in the Songkhla Province not too long ago, I crossed the Sadao Border which is a few km North of Bukit Kayu Hitam.
As it was the Songkran Festival, there were many people at the customs. When we're queuing at the Thai customs to cross the Sadao border, the uncle that we're traveling with reminded us to slid RM1 in between our passport pages, together with the white immigration card.
Wasn't that consider as a bribe? I don't understand why we need to give them RM1? There wasn't any signboard/instructions put up at the surrounding stating that there'll be a fee charged to tourist or processing fee or whatsoever. To me, giving money to a custom officer when he/she is on duty in order to guarantee your entrance into the country is consider a bribe, no matter how big or small the amount of money is. Mummy and papa doesn't seem to have the answer to my question on why we should give the money to the custom officer. There are so many people queuing up to cross the customs, even it was only RM1, they would make big bucks out of Malaysian/Singaporean tourist.
As I'm nearing the officer, the person in front of me didn't know that he has to pay RM1 and he didn't clip the money in between his passport. The lady officer, while doing what she should be doing with the passport and the card, put up 2 fingers obviously asking for 2 ringgit. Meaning to say, if you clip RM1 in your passport, you'll be paying RM1, else they'll ask for RM2. Can someone, anyone, tell me why they heck is the officer asking money? Why must we pay them? Thai goverment not giving them salary?
When it was my turn, while standing there waiting for her to stamp my passport, I look into her office. Can see that she has a very big plastic bag by her side full of money. The Singaporean at the counter beside me also give money, it was Singapore dollar in coin, not sure is S$1 or S$2, I not familiar with S'pore money.
What if we don't pay even after they ask for it? Most people would think that it was only RM1, better paid up than causing a lot of problem rite? We're, after all, at this place to cross the border and have some fun.
Please, I'm very eager to know why Thai custom officer can ask money from people who cross the border. Can someone please enlighten me.
As it was the Songkran Festival, there were many people at the customs. When we're queuing at the Thai customs to cross the Sadao border, the uncle that we're traveling with reminded us to slid RM1 in between our passport pages, together with the white immigration card.
Wasn't that consider as a bribe? I don't understand why we need to give them RM1? There wasn't any signboard/instructions put up at the surrounding stating that there'll be a fee charged to tourist or processing fee or whatsoever. To me, giving money to a custom officer when he/she is on duty in order to guarantee your entrance into the country is consider a bribe, no matter how big or small the amount of money is. Mummy and papa doesn't seem to have the answer to my question on why we should give the money to the custom officer. There are so many people queuing up to cross the customs, even it was only RM1, they would make big bucks out of Malaysian/Singaporean tourist.
As I'm nearing the officer, the person in front of me didn't know that he has to pay RM1 and he didn't clip the money in between his passport. The lady officer, while doing what she should be doing with the passport and the card, put up 2 fingers obviously asking for 2 ringgit. Meaning to say, if you clip RM1 in your passport, you'll be paying RM1, else they'll ask for RM2. Can someone, anyone, tell me why they heck is the officer asking money? Why must we pay them? Thai goverment not giving them salary?
When it was my turn, while standing there waiting for her to stamp my passport, I look into her office. Can see that she has a very big plastic bag by her side full of money. The Singaporean at the counter beside me also give money, it was Singapore dollar in coin, not sure is S$1 or S$2, I not familiar with S'pore money.
What if we don't pay even after they ask for it? Most people would think that it was only RM1, better paid up than causing a lot of problem rite? We're, after all, at this place to cross the border and have some fun.
Please, I'm very eager to know why Thai custom officer can ask money from people who cross the border. Can someone please enlighten me.
Labels: Going places
posted by LieWei at 7:45 PM
1 Comments:
The corrupt practise has been going since I was last there 30 years ago.
By
Tung Kin Foong, at May 19, 2008, 11:33:00 PM
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