SEPANG: In conjunction with Malaysia’s assumption of the chairmanship of Asean next year, the Immigration Department has introduced special lanes for passport holders of member countries at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and KLIA2.

The department will also implement the Foreigner eGate system for travellers from other countries with valid employment, student or social visit passes.

Eight Foreigner eGates have been installed at KLIA but will only be operational from Dec 29.

“We are introducing the two lanes to speed up the processing of travellers in and out of Malaysia,” Immigration director-general Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim said at KLIA.

“We believe that the Immigration counters can function faster and more smoothly with these two systems.”

He said three Asean lanes were already in place at the international departure hall of KLIA, with two more in the international arrival hall.

KLIA2 has two Asean lanes at the international departure hall and two in the international arrival hall.

Mustafa said the Asean lanes and eGate systems would be extended to all major airports in the country.

He stressed that there was no compromise on national security in implementing the two systems. “All who go through our gates will have their documents scrutinised to make sure that they are qualified to use one of the two systems,” Mustafa said.-thestar