Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry’s FDI initiative will create a single digital identity for every foreign visitor, integrated with a centralised biometric system featuring three main identifiers – fingerprints, iris scans and facial recognition.
Saifuddin was responding to a question from Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) on steps being taken by the ministry to address counter setting at the nation’s borders following the recent arrest of 18 Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) officers on suspicion of being involved in such activities.
“The issue of counter setting involving officers at the country’s entry points is serious and has received the government’s full attention,” Saifuddin said in a written parliamentary reply.
“While legal action has been taken against the officers involved, the home ministry is also adopting a technological approach that emphasises automation, smart screening, and reduced human interaction in control and inspection processes at entry points.
“With these biometric features, each visitor will have a unique, official record that is difficult to falsify or manipulate.”
The system is expected to work in tandem with the Advance Passenger Screening System (APSS), which screens travellers before arrival, and the upcoming Risk Assessment Engine (RAE), powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Both systems aim to identify high-risk individuals and prevent abuse at the country’s borders.
The home ministry also plans to expand the use of autogate machines as a key measure against counter setting.
Currently available to visitors from 63 countries and long-term pass holders, the autogate entry clearance system will be rolled out at all main entry points beginning this month, with full nationwide implementation targeted by 2028.
To improve transparency at manual inspection counters, the ministry will require all AKPS officers to wear body cameras, while AI-powered CCTV systems equipped with video analytics will monitor officer interactions with travellers in real time.
“These measures will allow suspicious or unauthorised activities to be detected early, closing gaps for misconduct and enhancing accountability,” Saifuddin added.
He said the government’s approach combined strict enforcement, technological advancement, and an integrity-driven work culture to ensure that corruption at the country’s borders would be effectively curbed.