Asia’s Most Popular Country Expands Automatic Gates to Travelers in 53 More Destinations

By VNA December 3, 2024 | 7:03 p.m. (Pacific Time)

A traveler at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia. Photo from AFP

Malaysia’s Immigration Ministry has expanded the automatic gate system to speed up immigration formalities for visitors from 53 more countries and territories, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said.

He said they included 26 European Union (EU) countries, 17 non-EU European countries, six Arab countries and four others, namely Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the automatic doors would help simplify the entry procedure without affecting security checks.

Currently, there are 1,568 automatic passport scanner units at exit points to Malaysia, which was named the most popular country in Asia in a survey conducted by US financial site Insider Monkey in June.

The Ministry of Home Affairs plans to introduce a new, more efficient system using QR code scanning technology at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), helping to speed up the visitor screening process.

The use of this technology is expected to help Malaysia enhance security and reduce congestion at check-in counters, especially during peak hours, said Deputy Minister Shamsul Anuar.

He added that the Malaysian government was also exploring the expansion of QR code scanning at many entry points, including other international airports, land border crossings and sea borders. This will help the country improve the efficiency of immigration management and reduce the risk of corruption at immigration counters.

Earlier, on November 18, Minister Nasution announced that next year the government plans to use QR codes for immigration screening at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) in the State of Johor to facilitate the movement of residents and tourists. and workers in Singapore.