LANGKAWI: A group of 29 Pakistan nationals who arrived at the Langkawi International Airport (LIA) on Wednesday to participate in a running event have been deported.
The 28 men and a woman informed the Immigration Department at the airport that they were participating in a running event tomorrow.
However, the group raised suspicion when the Immigration officers found just "kurta", a traditional Pakistani attire, upon inspecting their bags, with no proper running gear.
Kedah Immigration Department director Mohd Ridzzuan Mohd Zain said the group, which hailed from a rural area in Pakistan, claimed that they were participating in the Tuba Cross Country Run tomorrow.
"Upon inspection and questioning, the group said they had spent RM2,000 each for the flight tickets and other expenses. However, it is bewildering that they were willing to spend so much to take part in a running event that offers just RM300 for the winner.
"They arrived in sports attire but only had kurtas in their bags, minus other sports gear including running shoes," he told reporters here today.
He added that the event organiser had also confirmed no foreign participants had registered for the run.
Ridzzuan said following the confirmation, the department decided to deny entry to the group and they were deported on the same day. He added that the group had booked accommodation at a budget hotel here and ticket flights to Dubai a day after the event.
"Following their suspicious motive, Immigration officers at the LIA counter decided to deny them entry on the grounds of national safety and to protect the integrity of local sporting events," he said.