KUALA LUMPUR: Kuching International Airport will also be getting QR code autogates.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said apart from Kuching, QR code autogates will also be installed at the Penang International Airport and Kota Kinabalu International Airport to ensure smooth movement at the country’s main entry points.
A news report by TVS quoted Saifuddin as saying that the implementation of this system is a priority as Malaysia is set to host nearly 400 Asean-level meetings this year, involving senior officials, ministers and heads of state.
Additionally, this initiative aligns with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, as the expected increase in tourists will require a more efficient immigration system.
“If this implementation is successful, we will add more units at KLIA 1 and 2 and continue expanding them to other airports to ensure a smoother travel experience,” he said.
He said this during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (March 4).
He was responding to queries from Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin regarding the effectiveness of the QR code trial period for Malaysian citizens, which began in January 2025, at the 40 dedicated immigration clearance lanes at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in addressing congestion at the country’s entry points.
In the meantime, Saifuddin added that the immigration clearance system at the main entry points has become more efficient with the use of MyBorderPass, with nearly 800,000 Malaysians having registered since its launch on Jan 1.
He stated that the automatic gate system or autogate using QR codes, introduced at KLIA 1 and KLIA 2, has proven effective in expediting passenger entry and exit processes.
“Based on data, 786,603 Malaysians have downloaded the MyBorderPass application, and since its implementation, 25 per cent of users at KLIA 1 and 2 have used the QR code autogate, compared to 60 per cent using passport autogates and 15 per cent going through manual counters.
“The average time to pass through the QR code autogate is only five seconds, significantly faster than the passport autogate (15 seconds) and the manual counter, which depends on queue length,” he said.
Saifuddin stated that, given the success of the system at KLIA, the government now plans to expand it to other major airports.
