Malaysia, voted Asia’s favourite country, will allow foreign visitors from 63 countries and territories to use a QR code system to clear immigration in just five seconds at all its border checkpoints starting next year.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the system uses artificial intelligence, facial recognition, iris scanning, and biometrics, as quoted by The Star.
Currently, only Malaysian citizens can use the QR code system to clear immigration at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 1 and 2, as well as at Johor land checkpoints.
These countries include Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Speaking in Parliament on March 4, Saifuddin noted that extending the system to foreign visitors would simplify immigration procedures.
The rollout of the QR code system is expected to reduce the number of immigration officers needed at counters by nearly 60%, allowing staff to be reassigned to other areas, Channel News Asia reported.
Since June 1 last year, visitors from 63 countries and regions have been able to use Malaysia’s automated gates to clear immigration.
Malaysia is set to welcome 38 million visitors in 2024, including 13 million visitors, up 31.1% year-on-year and up 8.3% from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, according to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Malaysia has been named the “most popular” country in Asia in 2024 by the US financial website Insider Monkey.