KUALA LUMPUR: The government is intensifying efforts to plug weaknesses in Malaysia’s border control system and stamp out corrupt practices among enforcement officers at entry points, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the Home Ministry views integrity issues, including the so-called "counter setting" activities involving officers at airports such as KLIA and land checkpoints, very seriously.
"Beyond taking legal and disciplinary action against those involved, the ministry is adopting technology-based solutions that focus on automation and smart screening to reduce human intervention in immigration control," he said in a parliamentary written reply to Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol) on Tuesday (Oct 28).
Among the systems being rolled out is the Advance Passenger Screening System (APSS), which screens passengers’ data from airlines up to 72 hours before flight departure.
He said the ministry is also developing a Risk Assessment Engine (RAE) under the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe).
The RAE, he added, is driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to strengthen the accuracy of security screenings.
The ministry will also introduce a Foreign Digital Identity (FDID) system that assigns each visitor a unique digital identity integrated with a central biometric database.
This database will store fingerprint, iris and facial recognition data to prevent impersonation or falsified records.
Saifuddin Nasution said the use of autogates has also been expanded as the first line of defence against corruption at manual counters.
"Autogates are now open to visitors from 63 countries and long-term pass holders," he said.
Meanwhile, all Immigration officers manning manual counters will now be equipped with body-worn cameras, while counters are monitored by AI-powered CCTV systems that can detect suspicious behaviour.
"These upgrades are carried out alongside punitive and preventive measures such as tighter lifestyle monitoring, detailed asset declarations, and continuous integrity training.
"With this combination of technology and enforcement, the government is confident that misconduct and corruption at the country’s entry points can be effectively reduced. This will help strengthen public trust, protect national security and uphold Malaysia’s sovereignty," he added.
