“It (the policy) makes it easier for foreign criminals to operate in the country,” he said at a press conference here.
He was responding to a question on why international scam syndicates frequently use Malaysia as a transit point or operational base. He did not elaborate on the other factors.
However, he said the police were working closely with the immigration department and other enforcement agencies to monitor the entrance of foreign nationals and tourists into the country.
Earlier, Khalid revealed that some 187 foreigners and locals suspected to be part of international online fraud syndicates had been arrested during a sting on May 6 and 7.
The operation targeted call centre activities, stock investment scams, financial fraud, and cross-border commercial crimes involving local and foreign victims.
Chinese nationals made up the bulk of those detained with 129, followed by 23 Malaysians.
Last year, tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing defended Malaysia’s 90-day visa-free entry for Chinese nationals, stressing the need for stronger enforcement instead of abandoning a policy that boosts the economy.
Tiong said that a few individuals might exploit the visa-free system to conduct unauthorised business activities but such cases should not be used to undermine policies designed to stimulate economic growth in Malaysia.
Khalid also said that police had opened 24 investigation papers and seized three high-end properties worth RM38 million and 20 luxury vehicles, including Rolls-Royce, with a total value of RM6.58 million.
Police also seized branded watches, handbags, jewellery, wallets, and gold bars worth RM12 million, and confiscated 556 digital devices worth RM552,000, including mobile phones, computers, and laptops.
He said the probe found that these syndicates had been targeting victims online from countries including Hong Kong, China, Korea, and Japan.
On a separate matter, Khalid said police arrested about 35 people linked to cases involving loan sharks in Singapore.
He was commenting on a New Straits Times report that Malaysian delivery riders were being used by loan sharks to intimidate defaulters in the republic, and were left to face the consequences when their deliveries violated Singapore’s racial and religious laws.
Khalid said police were also probing an incident in which drugs, mobile phones, and sharp weapons were discovered in a lock-up in Ipoh during a spot-check.
He also ordered the suspension of the officers and personnel involved.
“I instructed the district police chiefs to inspect lock-ups from time to time,” he added.