THE officer at the Immigration counter allowed my wife to go ahead to the departure lounge, but held me back with a question: “Ada surat?” (Do you have a letter?) This was in June and I knew then that the London holiday trip, given to us by our children, had turned sour.

Till today, it hurts and there is no solution in sight.

At the check-in counter, the confirming of our flight and our seats, and the loading of bags were all handled efficiently. Then I was shown a computer screen instruction, dated Dec 28, 2006, stating that I was not allowed to leave the country.

I coaxed my wife to go ahead with the trip and asked for my bags to be unloaded.

At the Inland Revenue Board the next day, I got to see a copy of their letter to the Immigration Department, containing two very offending phrases: (a) adalah dipercayai, beliau mungkin akan meninggalkan Malaysia, and (b) menghalang beliau dari meninggalkan Malaysia (in effect telling them not to allow me to leave the country).

I was asked to pay RM15,715 as tax in arrears for the period 1982 to 1996. My taxes were being deducted from my salary during that time.

The department insisted I pay the full sum, failing which I would not be allowed to go on my trip. They wanted 50 per cent settled immediately, with post-dated cheques for the balance.

Despite my age and current status, they simply wouldn’t budge. I broke down. I wailed. I was lost.

A temporary letter was given to me for Immigration clearance, after I had paid RM700. I had to give a letter of undertaking that I would settle the balance in 12 instalments.

I still do not know where to turn to. The companies I worked with are not able to help, either. How am I, in 2008, to search for details and proof of something that happened in 1982?

K. THIRUSELVAM, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – September 1, 2008