CYBERJAYA: The Immigration Department must evolve beyond its traditional role of guarding the nation’s borders to become a strategic driver of Malaysia’s economic growth, national security and digital transformation, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined four key mandates for the department, beginning with its role as a facilitator of economic growth by creating a more efficient immigration system that attracts foreign investment, global talent and tourists.
“In today’s world, investors no longer choose countries solely based on incentives. They choose countries that are efficient. Global talent prefers countries that are easily accessible, while tourists seek destinations that offer fast and secure travel experiences,” he said in his speech before officiating the 104th Immigration Day celebration yesterday.
He said unnecessary delays, cumbersome procedures and excessive bureaucracy ultimately undermine Malaysia’s competitiveness.
He cited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an example of how immigration policies can support economic growth, adding that the country’s Golden Visa programme, which offers residency of up to 10 years, has helped attract global talent and investment.
“The UAE recorded RM196.6bil in foreign direct investment in 2025, making it the world’s ninth-largest destination for foreign investment for the fourth consecutive year.
“As such, the Immigration Department’s role is no longer limited to controlling the country’s entry points. It has become a strategic institution that must continue to be strengthened.”
On the second mandate, he stressed the need to reinforce national security and sovereignty amid increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
He said migrant smuggling syndicates, human trafficking networks, financial crimes, labour exploitation, document fraud and terrorism were increasingly leveraging technology and international networks.
The third mandate focuses on accelerating digital transformation and innovation in immigration services, Ahmad Zahid said.
“The future of immigration management must be powered by big data, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, digital identity systems, biometrics and smart border technologies to enable faster, more accurate and more secure decision-making.”
“I want the Immigration Department to become an organisation that uses technology not only to work faster, but also to think smarter, act more accurately and deliver world-class services.”
The fourth mandate centres on strengthening integrity, professionalism and humanitarian values within the department, he said.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said results from the Refugee Registration Document project will be received by the end of the year.
He said the project was being conducted to obtain more comprehensive data on refugees in the country.
