KUALA LUMPUR: Adopting the National Immigration Control System (SKIN), which will be implemented in 2021 will be advantageous to Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the Dewan Negara that SKIN, would complement the Preventing and Combating Serious Crime agreement signed between Malaysia and the United States recently
This was was a key prerequisite for Malaysia to participate in the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), he said.
"Malaysia now has met six out of the seven requirements listed by the United States to be under the programme.
"I am positive that we will be able to achieve all seven and be granted the VWP,"he said adding that 38 countries had implemented the SKIN system granting them the visa waiver, including Singapore and Brunei.
Zahid said this in reply to a question from Senator Datuk Bashir Alias who asked the advantage of the SKIN and its advantage to place Malaysia among the countries granted the VWP.
He adds that the Immigration Department will strengthen the current Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) while transitioning to SKIN.
Zahid said the current system would also be installed with the Advanced Passenger Screening System (APSS), to prevent those with terrorism background from entering the country.
"We have instructed for the vendors in charge of SKIN to work together with our current MyIMMs vendors so we can have an integrated platform to modernise the application and infrastructure.
He said the new system would not incur any additional cost to the government as a service fee would be charged to each passenger passing through the country's immigration system.
"SKIN will replace the 20-year-old MyIMMs system. It will give the Immigration Department better and faster system to screen those entering and exiting Malaysia," Zahid said.