The Immigration Department of Malaysia recently has installed a set of new kiosks in Kuala Lumpur International Airport that allow Malaysian citizens to easily verify their eligibility to travel outside the country before they check in for their flights. KLIA is the first airport in the country to obtain these kiosks with more airports to receive it in the near future.
Previously, the most common method to verify one’s travel status is via a dedicated website which has been made available by the department since few years ago. On another hand, some travelers only learnt about their ineligibility to travel when they are being denied from boarding their flight by immigration officers at passport control counters.
If a traveler is found to be ineligible to travel, the kiosk will then provide the reason behind the restriction which he or she can then contact the related agencies in order to resolve it. According to the Director General of Immigration Department, Mustafar Ali, the majority of the travel bans are related to the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans as well as matters related to the Department of Insolvency, and Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
Additionally, the kiosks are also designed to inform travelers if they are holding cancelled or expired passports. Those that are using passports that expire in less than 6 months or that have been reported lost will also be highlighted by these kiosks.
Meanwhile, the department is planning to install these kiosks at KLIA2 within this month and also intends to have them at other international airports throughout Malaysia. Furthermore, their availability might also be extended to land-based entry and exit points such as Bukit Kayu Hitam at the Kedah-Thailand border and Sultan Iskandar CIQ Complex at the Johor-Singapore border depending on the department’s funding.
(Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia and The Star)
