Tourists from China have not been exempted from requiring a visa to enter Malaysia because China is still considered a "high-risk" country, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

"China is still categorised as a high-risk country. Hence, a balanced approach should be taken to ensure the safety of the people and the country," he said in a parliamentary written reply to William Leong Jee Keen (PKR-Selayang) today.

This balanced approach involves the waiver of visa fees for Chinese tourists, Zahid ( photo ) added.

He said the government recognised that an influx of tourists will boost the tourism economy and so the waiver will encourage Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia.

However, Zahid explained, the visas will allow authorities to make sure only "genuine" tourists are allowed into the country.

Earlier today, Zahid had described the deportation of 18-year-old Hong Kong student activist Joshua Wong as a matter of "national security".

Wong ( photo ) arrived at the Penang International Airport around noon today but was detained by the immigration.

He was then put on a Dragonair flight back to Hong Kong shortly after his detainment.

In June last year, Wong led a student movement which grew into a popular uprising in Hong Kong, later known as the umbrella revolution.

They were demanding for a direct election without having to go through screening by Beijing.

Wong was scheduled to hold a series of talks in Malaysia this week about the student movement.

Malaysia-China ties remain strong

All this comes on the heels of the country trying to promote its relationship with China.

Bernama reported today that Malaysia remains China's largest Asean trading partner for six consecutive years.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was quoted as saying that projects such as the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park are examples of the business cooperation between the two countries.

"Investment in each other's countries shows the long-term commitment to this relationship, and in doing so we are building a long history," Najib said.

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