KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has tabled amendments to two laws to tighten passport and immigration controls for those entering and exiting the country.
The two amendment Bills tabled by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail were the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2025 and Passports (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The proposed amendment to Section 2 of the Passports Act 1966, will require those entering Malaysia or leaving the country to provide a passport “through an automated system".
This clause is a consequential amendment to the proposed amendments of the Immigration Act, which requires every person entering Malaysia or leaving the country to be examined by the immigration officer or through an automated system.
The amendment to the Immigration Act seeks to introduce new provisions on the use of automated systems and the control of entrance and exit of any person into or from Malaysia by train.
A new Section 21a will be introduced that requires the master, owner, agent or charterer of every vessel, captain of every aircraft and driver of every train which is due to arrive at any authorised landing place, airport or point of entry in Malaysia from another country or those leaving Malaysia to furnish passenger name record and advance passenger information.
They will have to report to immigration officers on the presence of any stowaway or unauthorised person on board of their vehicle.
The Bill also has a new Section 22a to provide that those entering Malaysia must provide his personal identifier and biometric data, before entering the country.
This clause also empowers the immigration officer to prohibit any person from entering Malaysia if the person refuses to provide his personal identifier and biometric data.
