KUALA LUMPUR ~ Malaysian immigration authorities want a tourist visa scheme reviewed because it is being abused by job seekers who are overstaying their welcome, a report said.

The visa-on-arrival (VOA) scheme was introduced for visitors from 24 countries last September, ahead of a major Visit Malaysia campaign in 2007 aimed at boosting tourist numbers.

But the immigration department’s enforcement director, Ishak Mohammed, said 20,481 of the total 36,701 granted visas since last year had overstayed the one-month limit.