THE Home Ministry will equip immigration officers with 600 body cameras and begin replacing manual immigration counters with automated gates (autogates) at international airports starting in June, in a bid to strengthen transparency and improve traveller experience.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the initiative follows concerns raised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding the integrity of immigration services.
“Datuk Seri (Prime Minister) himself called the Immigration director-general and expressed the need to immediately work on the use of body cameras,” Saifuddin said during the Home Ministry's Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration on Wednesday.
He added that he had since instructed the ministry’s secretary-general to fast-track the process, with procurement scheduled for 28 April to ensure the devices can be deployed as quickly as possible.
In tandem with the body cameras, Saifuddin also announced that autogate systems will replace most manual immigration counters at Malaysia’s international airports by June, significantly speeding up the arrival and departure processes.
“As Datuk Seri wishes, by June, most of the international airports will replace manual counters with autogates, which will allow the departure of travellers to take place in a very short time. That is our commitment,” he said.
The move is part of the government’s broader push to enhance the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of public services and enforcement agencies.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who also attended the celebration and spent time greeting ministry staff, had earlier stressed the need for swift reforms.
The event was also attended by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. - April 24, 2025
