Home Ministry to add 40 more counters at CIQ complex

The Home Ministry is planning to add 40 more counters at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.

Currently, the CIQ has 77 counters for cars (39 for entry and 38 for exit), 100 counters for motorcycles (50 entry and 50 exit), and 11 lorry counters (six for entry and five for exit).

Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said that this was part of the government’s preparation to welcome thousands of travellers when Malaysia and Singapore fully open its two borders.

“When the situation recovers, we expect about 400,000 to 500,000 people to use the CIQ to travel between Malaysia and Singapore.

“It is better for us to make the necessary steps as part of our preparation when our borders with Singapore are fully opened,” he told reporters visiting the CIQ yesterday.

Hamzah also said that the process at counters at all checkpoints in the country would be carried out manually until 2023, which is when the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISE) will start to operate.

The NIISE would not only incorporate biometrics but also facial recognition, he said.

“Once the system is in place at the Immigration Department headquarters, we will integrate it at all checkpoints in securing our borders,” he added.

The Immigration Department would upgrade the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) to NIISE, which is a security enhanced system that will safeguard the country’s borders.