Smaller packages for RM6bil Immigration job

Enhanced technology: The Immigration Department may soon get a major security upgrade worth over RM400mil, following the recent sabotage on the Malaysian Immigration System.

PETALING JAYA: A planned multi-billion-ringgit project to upgrade the country’s immigration system and tighten national border security may now be repackaged into smaller portions, say industry sources.

Instead of awarding the full 12-year contract, which could be valued at close to RM6bil, the Government may opt to kickstart the security upgrades by awarding it in smaller work packages, they said.

A source explained that this may be due to the high cost of the planned upgrade, which is likely to rise even further due to the strong US dollar.

Another reason for the repackaging of the contract, he said, was due to the recent security breach in the Immigration Department’s system.

“The first portion from within this project, related to security upgrades, is likely to be awarded in the near future.

“This is being rolled out sooner than later due to recent security breaches found in the Immigration Department’s system,” said the source, adding that the portion would be valued at between RM400mil and RM500mil.

He said this in reference to the recent discovery of a sabotage on the Malaysian Immigration System (myIMMs).

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Sakib Kusmi said on May 31 that disciplinary action had been taken against 37 officers found to be involved in sabotaging the system since February this year, while five officers were detained by the police to facilitate investigations.

The planned enhancement to the country’s immigration system was first announced last year – before the compromise in myIMMs was revealed. The integrated technology platform was aimed at upgrading the core applications and infrastructure of the country’s immigration system to tighten border security.

The system was to be installed at airports and the country’s entry points, and was slated to kick off this year.

ICT player Prestariang Bhd announced in November last year that it had received a confirmation letter of approval in principle to implement the project, which it called the “National Immigration Control System” or “Skin”.

The company was said to be the frontrunner for the project, following its tie-up with United States-based Unisys, which would provide the required security expertise.

According to its 2015 annual report, the project would leverage on new and emerging technologies to verify, validate and monitor the movement of people in and out of the country.

“Skin will effectively overhaul previous policies, systems, people, processes and operations to provide enhanced capabilities for immigration services and border security, as well as carrying out surveillance of potential risks in cross-border traffic,” it said.

Apart from Prestariang, other technology solution providers said to be vying for the award of the RM400mil security upgrade project include Datasonic Group Bhd, Heitech Padu Bhd and S5 Systems Sdn Bhd (formerly Nexbis Sdn Bhd), the sources added.