SEPANG: An improved green lane system has been introduced at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 for international passengers.
The move, with two green lanes and one red lane, is also meant to ease congestion at the Customs clearance area, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
“The green lane is for passengers who have nothing to declare or are not carrying any prohibited items, whereas the red lane is for passengers who need to declare the items,” he told a press conference held at KLIA Terminal 1 yesterday.
This green lane initiative is being done by Malaysian Airports along with the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
“Previously, all arriving international passengers were required to queue at a single lane and have their luggage screened through an X-ray scanner.
“This led to long queues of up to 15 to 20 minutes, especially during peak hours,” said Loke.
“There was also congestion at the baggage claim area as passengers had to queue twice, once to collect their bags and again for Customs inspection.
“Following months of discussions, the agencies agreed to introduce the new, improved mechanism.”
Terminal 1 handles between 80,000 and 90,000 passengers daily, with international travellers making up about 60% of the total.
“The introduction of the green lane will not compromise national security, as there would still be officers monitoring passengers through risk assessment measures.
“Those assessed as high-risk can still be re-directed to the red lane,” he said.
With Malaysia expecting a higher number of visitors during Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), he said the initiative would help manage passenger flow more efficiently.
“The new system will be implemented on a trial basis for one month until Feb 26.
“Once the trial is completed, the system will be extended to Terminal 2, as well as other international airports including Penang, Johor Baru and Kuching.”
Currently, there are four lanes at the Customs area, one designated for flight crew and three for passengers.
Separately, Loke said vehicle users can now get their physical licences on the spot.
“Previously, people had to show proof like air tickets to apply for the physical licence and some found this troublesome. So we decided to simplify the process,” he said.
“When Malaysians go abroad and want car rentals or to drive abroad, they need the physical licence because some countries do not recognise the digital version.”
However, this physical licence still remains optional, and vehicle users who only drive domestically can continue using the digital licence.
Licence holders may apply for a card at all Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) counters nationwide with a printing fee of RM20 (Malaysians) or RM100 (non-Malaysians).
The printing fee will be waived for those aged 60 and above, for those with Class A1 and A licences, and those holding disability (OKU) cards registered with the Social Welfare Department, the minister said.
