Parliamentarians in the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) have raised major concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and immigration oversight within the Port City Project, following revelations that over 14,300 visas have been issued to individuals entering the development to date.
During a recent committee session, an official from the Department of Immigration and Emigration disclosed the visa figures, prompting intensive questioning led notably by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam alongside other committee members. The scrutiny centered on immigration landing endorsements and the subsequent monitoring of visa holders entering the project area.
When questioned on whether authorities actively track individuals upon arrival to ensure they adhere to mandatory 30-day regulatory processes to regularize their documentation, officials admitted that monitoring is restricted to periodic monthly reporting rather than real-time individual checks. Lawmakers strongly criticized this lack of continuous oversight, raising doubts about how authorities can verify the status of more than 14,000 visa holders or ensure proper regulatory compliance.
Key Developments
- More than 14,300 visas have been granted to individuals entering the Port City Project to date.
- Lawmakers led by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam scrutinized immigration landing endorsements and post-arrival tracking mechanisms.
- Immigration and project officials confirmed that tracking compliance with the mandatory 30-day documentation regularization process relies on periodic monthly reports rather than real-time checks.
- Committee members highlighted institutional deficiencies, notably the absence of a dedicated Legal Director post, which critics argue harms the speed and transparency of processing legitimate investments.
The discussions further illuminated administrative shortcomings within the project’s governing structure. Committee members stressed that operating such a significant organization without a dedicated Legal Director undermines both operational efficiency and the transparency required to facilitate legitimate investments.