KLIA’s QR code-enabled autogates speeding up immigration clearance
SEPANG: The trial of the QR code autogate system to ease congestion at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 has been given the thumbs up by both passengers and airline crew.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who carried out an inspection here yesterday, said 55,000 passengers have used the system since it was unveiled on Jan 1.
He said the QR code system is available only for Malaysians, and clearance takes less than six seconds.
Before this, users were required to download and use the MyBorderPass application on their smartphones to utilise the system.
The use of the QR code for immigration clearance takes between five and seven seconds, compared with the 15 to 25 seconds offered by conventional automatic gates.
Saifuddin Nasution said about 400,000 Malaysians have downloaded the app, and while travellers are still required to carry their passports, they need not produce them as the system electronically stores data on their movements.
He said Terminal 1 and 2 each has 20 units of the readers installed at a cost of RM19.2mil, with the system anticipated to overcome the congestion that often occurs during peak hours and festive seasons.
Saifuddin Nasution, who later departed for Abu Dhabi to join Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is on an official visit to that country, said the QR code system will also be extended to airports in Penang, Langkawi, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
He said prior to the system, immigration clearance for travellers from 63 countries were carried out at autogates and at manual counters, resulting in Malaysians complaining that they had to join long queues with foreign travellers during peak periods.
He added that as Malaysia is Asean Chair this year, the system will be enabled for travellers from Asean countries departing the country.
“About 30 million travellers, of whom 18 million were foreigners, had arrived at and departed from both terminals last year.
“This is a large number, and if we do not upgrade our immigration system, there will be congestion.
“In accordance with the guidelines of the Malaysian Aviation Commission, 85% of passengers should have their immigration clearance sorted out within 20 minutes, and from our survey, we managed to achieve this,” said Saifuddin Nasution, adding that with Visit Malaysia 2026 next year, large numbers of tourists are expected from Singapore, Thailand, China and India.
At the departure hall, more than a dozen passengers who were asked if they were satisfied with the QR code system gave the thumbs up and rated their experience at eight or more on a scale of one to 10.
