Malaysia to Introduce QR Code Immigration Clearance System at Johor-Singapore Land Checkpoints

JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysia is set to adopt a QR code immigration clearance system, following in the footsteps of Singapore, to tackle the perennial congestion at the Johor-Singapore Causeway, recognized as the world's busiest land crossing. The implementation of the Quick Response (QR) Code Immigration Clearance System is expected to ease the passage of travelers, particularly factory workers commuting between Malaysia and Singapore.

Who can use QR Code Immigration Clearance System?

Beginning with a pilot initiative scheduled to launch in June, Malaysians traveling to Singapore on factory buses will be able to clear immigration through QR codes at both of Johor’s land checkpoints. This initiative, led by Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, mirrors the successful response to Singapore's QR code initiative introduced by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on March 19 for car travelers on its side of the border.

Which Johor-Singapore Checkpoint has QR Code Immigration Clearance System?

The QR clearance system, set to roll out in phases from June, aims to reduce immigration clearance time by half for the 400,000 daily travelers passing through the checkpoints. This system will be implemented at both land checkpoints in Johor, namely the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) in Johor Baru and the Second Link Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) in Gelang Patah.

The pilot initiative will initially apply to Malaysian citizens traveling to Singapore on factory buses, according to Johor’s Works, Transportation, and Infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh. He emphasized that travelers with Singapore passports are not yet included in this pilot initiative.

Travelers participating in the pilot will be required to create a profile and generate an individual or group QR code through a system managed by the Immigration Department. This QR code will enable them to use their smartphones to self-scan instead of having their passports processed, effectively halving the current processing time of three minutes per passport.

Johor is poised to become the first state in Malaysia to implement this system at its international checkpoints, following the lead of countries like China, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Germany, and Singapore.

Efforts to contact Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for confirmation were unsuccessful at press time. Technical glitches and infrastructure complexities have previously hindered efforts to tackle congestion problems at the Johor-Singapore land border, leading to long wait times for immigration clearance, especially during peak hours, weekends, and holidays.

Despite having a significant number of immigration inspection counters, the volume of motorists has exceeded the capacity of the checkpoints. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi expressed openness to federal initiatives aimed at reducing traffic congestion and emphasized the need for swift implementation of effective measures like the QR clearance system.

As Malaysia gears up to implement the QR code immigration clearance system, stakeholders await an official announcement from the Home Ministry, hoping for a solution that will significantly alleviate congestion at the Johor-Singapore land checkpoints.

Source:

• New Straits Times

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