Autogate system for foreigners

PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department is planning to create an autogate system for foreigners by the middle of next year, said director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad. He said that at the moment, the autogate facility was being used by departing local passport holders only. “By introducing the autogate system for foreigners, we will improve the efficiency of operations at the country’s entry and exit points like KLIA and other international airports. “It will also strengthen the integrity of immigration officers by preventing bribery,” he said.

Alias added that the system would also be able to detect if foreigners were using fake visas or someone else’s passport. He said that only genuine visitors would be able to pass through the autogate. “The system will be able to detect passports verified by the Inter national Civil Aviation Orga nisation which were being used in more than 60 countries. On the detection of fake passports or the misuse of genuine documents, Alias said that every visa had a serial number which could be detected by the autogate system. “If the visa is fake and cannot be read by the system, the gates will not open,’’ he said.

Based on statistics from the enforcement unit, 267 arrests involving foreigners were made under the 1966 Passport Act from January until October. Another 22 offenders were arrested during operations with other authorities. Alias said that his department was already working with other countries to share information and expertise. “We are working with Australia and the Netherlands and will be partnering with the United States and Britain. “We are currently preparing the framework for a memorandum of understanding with both countries,” Alias told mStar in an exclusive interview.

-thestar online.