New claims have emerged on social media, suggesting that Singaporeans can now use the automated gates at the Johor Bahru land checkpoint without prior registration or submitting a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). However, this has not been officially confirmed by Malaysian authorities.
Previously, Singaporeans who wished to use the e-gates at immigration had to submit a copy of the MDAC at least three days prior to arrival and verify their biometric data at the immigration counter for first-time use.
Recent changes noticed by travellers
Photos circulating on social media show new signages at the Sultan Iskandar CIQ Complex in JB, indicating that manual registration is no longer required. The signages read, “No more registration. Just walk into the e-gate.”
Several users have also claimed that both manual registration and submitting an MDAC are unnecessary for Singaporeans before using the e-gates. A user, who appears to be the administrator of the “Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers 马新过境者” Facebook group, shared pictures showing a simplified process of using a Singapore passport to access the e-gate directly, without manual registration.
Former presidential hopeful Tan Kin Lian also confirmed this, sharing his personal experience of using the e-gates, stating, “You only need to go to the e-gate, scan your Singapore passport, show your face and the gate opens. It works just like Singapore.”
However, some users reported issues when exiting via the e-gates. A few claimed they were told by JB customs officers to use specific e-gates for entry and exit. One user wrote that Singaporeans without MDAC should use “the egates on the extreme left”.
Singaporeans exempted from MDAC
Singaporeans were officially exempted from having to submit an MDAC to enter Malaysia from January 1, 2024. Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail explained that some Singaporeans enter Malaysia on an almost daily basis, making it more realistic for them to be exempted. Other travellers exempted from MDAC include diplomatic passport holders, Malaysian permanent residents, Brunei General Certificate of Identity holders, and Thailand Border Pass holders.
Although the MDAC requirement has been lifted for entry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) website still states that it is a pre-requisite for first-time Singaporean visitors wanting to use the e-gates. Mothership has reached out to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Malaysian Immigration Office in Johor for comment but has not received more information on the matter.
In summary, while social media claims suggest that manual registration and MDAC are no longer required for Singaporeans to use JB e-gates, this has not been officially confirmed. Some users have experienced issues when exiting via the e-gates, and the MFA website still lists MDAC as a requirement for first-time users. It is advisable to wait for official confirmation before making assumptions about the new process.