<figure id="attachment_3100397" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3100397" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3100397 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/d55527bc-autogate-klia-bernamapic-040725.webp" alt="autogate klia" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3100397" class="wp-caption-text">At least 40 QR code-enabled autogate counters have been installed at KLIA. (Bernama pic)</figcaption></figure>
SEPANG: Data analyst Jamil Shahrin was impressed that it took less than 10 seconds to clear immigration upon his return from Hanoi.
Jamil, 37, said that in the past, he had to wait in a queue, and at times, would take more than an hour before he finally reached the immigration counter at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
<figure id="attachment_3233293" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3233293" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3233293" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/fb6fcf41-jamil-shahrin-ms-121225.webp" alt="Jamil Shahrin." width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3233293" class="wp-caption-text">Jamil Shahrin.</figcaption></figure>
“But now I just walk to the autogate, get my face scanned and scan my QR code, and it’s done,” he told FMT.
The autogate Jamil is referring to is the quick response (QR) code system, which replaces the need for passengers to scan their passports and have their biometrics taken when going through the machine.
The QR code system verifies the identities of travellers by cross-referencing the data stored in the code with the airport’s database.
For Jamil, who travels frequently to international destinations, Malaysia’s latest system is the most “intelligent and efficient”, when compared to the immigration clearance systems used at the other international airports in the region.
<figure id="attachment_3233307" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3233307" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3233307 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/f5bc374b-inset-international-arrivals-client-121225.webp" alt="Inset" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3233307" class="wp-caption-text">The new QR code-based autogates are set to make immigration clearance faster and smoother.</figcaption></figure>
“You still get long queues in other countries. But we have upgraded to the autogate system and using the MyBorderPass app, which makes me proud to be Malaysian.”
The implementation of the QR code system is part of the government’s initiative to reform the civil service in a bid to increase transparency and efficiency.
Apart from installing 40 automats with QR scanners, 10 additional immigration counters were opened, while a Quick Response Team was also set up to deal with travellers during peak hours.
<figure id="attachment_3233310" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3233310" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3233310 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/4a568563-inset-klia-client-121225.webp" alt="Inset (KLIA) " width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3233310" class="wp-caption-text">KLIA is expected to handle tens of thousands of passengers during Visit Malaysia Year 2026.</figcaption></figure>
These initiatives, according to government data, have reduced passenger waiting time by 54.9% &#8211; from 111 minutes to 50 minutes &#8211; surpassing its original target of a 30% reduction.
Technician Hamizan Hasnan said the MyBorderPass initiative was a practical step towards the digitalisation of the civil service.
<figure id="attachment_3233294" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3233294" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3233294 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/cc443682-hamizan-hasnan-ms-121225.webp" alt="Hamizan Hasnan" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3233294" class="wp-caption-text">Hamizan Hasnan.</figcaption></figure>
Hamizan, 26, who also returned from Vietnam, said passengers need only to register their biometrics before scanning the QR code at the autogate.
“I just hope that this feature is not limited to KLIA. It should be expanded to other government counters as it would do away with the hassle (caused by red tape) and speed up the process,” he said.
Nur Adriana Jamil said the autogate and MyBorderPass application not only make it easy for Malaysians to travel, but would also impress tourists.
<figure id="attachment_3233295" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3233295" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3233295 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aa09a47b-noor-adriana-mohamad-jamil-ms-121225.webp" alt="" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3233295" class="wp-caption-text">Noor Adriana Mohamad Jamil.</figcaption></figure>
Nur Adriana, 26, who is in the financial sector, said when tourists notice how speedy immigration is and how much it has been digitised, they will realise that “we are on par with other developed countries”.
“This is the result of the reforms the government has been pushing for,” she said.
<figure id="attachment_3233297" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3233297" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3233297" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/c8eb8f0d-nurfarisya-mahmood-ms-121225.webp" alt="Nurfarisya Mahmood." width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3233297" class="wp-caption-text">Nurfarisya Mahmood.</figcaption></figure>
Nurfarisya Mahmood, 24, said the timing of the “reforms” at KLIA was impeccable, as the country had welcomed delegations from Asean nations for the recently concluded summit.
Noting that next year is Visit Malaysia Year 2026, she added: &#8220;These visitors will notice that we are comparable to other countries in terms of facilities.”

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