From 1 June 2011 onwards, foreigners entering Malaysia will have their thumbprints taken under a biometric system. Covering all 96 entry points, this security effort is meant to register and monitor foreigners from their arrival until departure, informed Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Foreigners will have their thumbprints taken and processed within 20 seconds upon arrival at the immigration check-point. The National Foreigners Enforcement and Registration System (NERS) will be linked to the police's existing Biometric Fingerprint Identification System (BIOFIS) to grant law enforcers access to the movements of foreigners with criminal records.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Alias Ahmad said the fingerprint database was far more efficient in crime prevention as it would alert the checkpoint staff if a foreigner had entered the country before using a different document or identity.
