Since donkey years ago, Singapore has already allowed Malaysians to enter Singapore through electronic gates for faster immigration processing.
Malaysia has finally stepped up its game and now allows Singaporeans to go through their electronic gate instead of watching the immigration officer snore and chit-chat.
But it is only at Johor customs, those who are still flying there will still need to queue.
There are a total of 40 gates installed, 20 for entry and 20 for the exit. Let’s hope that they are functioning.
BUT
Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin announced on Friday (January 20) that people holding Singapore passports can use the automatic customs clearance gates at the Johor-Singapore Causeway Johor Bahru checkpoint and the Singapore-Malaysia Second Corridor checkpoint from now on.
He said that if people holding Singapore passports want to use the automatic gates, they must ensure that their passports are electronic passports (e-passports) embedded with chips that store personal biometric authentication data, and that the passports are valid for at least three months.
They must also fill in and submit Malaysia’s e-arrival card online three days before entering Johor. If it is the first time to use the automatic gate, you must also go to the counter of the Immigration Bureau to make a one-time biometric authentication record.
Seems like their systems are still far from Singapore’s standards.