KOTA KINABALU: Sabah employers are urged to apply for the work permits of their employees from China.

Ouyang Huifeng, Deputy Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, said hiring illegal workers would not be good for both China and Malaysia.

Responding to the detention of 36 Chinese nationals in Semporna last week, Ouyang said such incidents could have been avoided.

The visa exemption policy for tourists from China visiting Malaysia and vice versa is good for both countries, he said.

Ouyang was attending the oath-taking ceremony of 19th committee of the Federation of Hakka Associations of Sabah last Saturday, on behalf of Huang Shifang, the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu.

More tourists from China are expected to visit Malaysia during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival this month and China’s national day in October, he said.

Currently, at least 300,000 Chinese nationals visit Malaysia each month.

China has also become one of the top destinations for Malaysian travellers for the past seven years.

After the introduction of visa exemption policy, two-third of Malaysian tourists have opted to visit China, he said.