System snag: Zulkifli is hopeful that the new system will be stable and able to detect people’s faces quickly. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: The first day of implementing the new QR code system for easier clearance with Singapore hit a snag, as many motorbike lanes equipped with the new system were not functioning properly due to possible technical issues.”
It is learnt that at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI), only one out of seven lanes installed with the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe), which uses the MyNIISe mobile application was functioning yesterday.
Meanwhile at the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ (KSAB) only two out of eight motorcycle lanes were working.
However the system installed at the bus halls at both the land checkpoints were functioning without problems.
Also the MyNIISe system installed in at least 16 car lanes – eight lanes for entry and eight lanes for departure – at BSI were operating as usual along with the 12 car lanes (six each for entry and exit) at KSAB.
The MyNIISe system first started with passenger cars beginning Sept 22 while implementation for motorcycles, pedestrians and bus users began yesterday.
Motorcyclist Daniel Tan, 42, said that he was shocked when he found that only one lane could be used when he was heading to work at about 6.30am.
“I decided to use my other MyBorderPass to avoid any congestion as I had to travel to Singapore early for a breakdown,” he said, adding that he was also concerned if the scanners could effectively detect the faces of those riding big bikes.
Tan hoped that both the QR codes for MyNIISe and MyBorderPass could be integrated so that the people could use any lane instead of going to designated lanes as both system were not interchangeable at the moment.
Another motorcyclist Zulkifli Ramli, 32, who works in Singapore as a technician, said more publicity needed to be given so that people would use the new QR code.
“I just found out about this QR recently and hope that the new system will be stable and be able to detect a person’s face quick,” he said, adding that he was happy to use the present MyBorderPass application to commute to work daily.
He added that it was important for the government to continue to rely on automation including the use or QR codes instead of manual counters to save travelling time between both countries.
A home ministry official when contacted said that at press time efforts were being made to get the system up and running for the motorcycle lanes.
Meanwhile, Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh when contacted, said that to date some 250,000 people have downloaded the application with 82,000 registering for it.
“I was informed that a big number of those who registered were Singaporeans,” he said, adding that so far the usage of the new system was still low with about 800 to 1,000 people daily.
During this pilot phase, the current MyBorderPass QR code system will remain operational for some 400,000 Malaysians.
The MyNIISe QR code is not just available to Malaysians. Travellers from 63 countries can use the QR code to enter Malaysia, while citizens of 71 countries can use it for departure.
The Home Ministry has also said that the trial will continue in stages at five key international airports across the country, namely KL International Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, Penang International Airport, Kuching International Airport and Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The exercise will run until Feb 28 next year. During this period, the current QR code system and MyBorderPass app will remain in use for entry and exit procedures.
Valid travel documents or passports are still required for immigration clearance as stipulated under the Immigration Act.
