PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department is gearing towards adopting electronic payment (e-payment) facility for all its services by November.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said this was among efforts being taken to improve the department's efficiency.
"I have challenged myself and the department - why not by November we implement e-payment for all our services.
"Of course, this will require facilities and budget. This matter will be further deliberated with the Home Ministry and the Finance Ministry," he said after taking the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's corruption-free pledge with his staff before Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.
Mustafar said having e-payment facility could reduce the security risk because some divisions in the department handled huge sum of cash.
"There is a division that collects up to RM400,000 daily.
"Instead of holding on to such a large sum of money on a daily basis, it is safer and convenient to bank-in the collection immediately via e-payment."
Mustafar also welcomed Zahid's call on the use of technology to discourage personnel from getting involved in corrupt practices when dealing with people.
With less human intervention, he said, the possibilities of corruption can be reduced significantly.
"Technology can also provide us the platform for accurate, fast and less hassle services to the public."
Mustafar admitted that there would still be processes that required the public to be present at the immigration office including getting their biometric records or to surrender or collect their passports.
So far, he said about 60 per cent of the Immigration Department operations have adopted the use of technology.