The Malaysia cabinet Wednesday decided to open an embassy in Kathmandu at charge d’ affaires level, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Dr. Ling Liong Sik said in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia will give Nepalis a 14 day visa on arrival, he said. Dr. Ling said this while attending a function to celebrate the inaugural flight between Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur on March 31. Royal Nepal Airlines has started flying to Kuala Lumpur twice a week.

The Malaysian Minister addressing a press conference organized jointly by Royal Nepal Airlines, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Pacific Area Travel Association in Kuala Lumpur said his government was for encouraging the Malaysians to visit Nepal.

Nepali travelers and those going to Malaysia for different jobs are facing a lot of hassles in the absence of an Embassy here in Nepal. Only government officials going to Malaysia on official work were given Malaysian visa through the Kathmandu based British Embassy twice every week.

Other Nepalis had to go all the way to Delhi for the visa. After the embassy at the charge d’ affairs level is opened in Nepal, the visa procedures will be simplified. Nepal is also opening an embassy in the Malaysian capital also at charge d’ affaires level.

Nearly sixteen million Malaysian tourists visit countries abroad every year.