Malaysia to implement APSS for screening of passengers

Malaysia today said it will implement the Advance Passenger Screening System (APSS) which will allow acess to complete information on foreigners, including tourists, at their places of departure and entries in "real time".
Via the APSS, data from Interpol, the Civil Aviation Department and the airlines will enable the authorities to detect false passports and travel documents.
"We are at the formality stage of implementation. Three quarters of countries in the world have implemented this system. We will bring it before the National Economic Council and the Cabinet to decide on the date of implementation," Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet rejected a proposal by the National Security Council to impose visas for Middle Eastern citizens.
Hamidi said it was unfair to impose the visa as travellers from the Middle East contributed millions of dollars to the country's foreign exchange.
"Moreover, the Immigration Department had its own ways to curb the Daesh (IS) extremists," he said, adding that the militants also came from neighbouring countries.

Holders of passports issued by 58 countries are currently granted visa-free entry to Malaysia for 90 days, including Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman.
Visitors from Iraq and Syria, -- where ISIS continues to wage a bloody campaign of terror are granted 30 days visa-free entry, while Iranians are given 14-days.

A total of 138 militants were detained in prisons and detention centres following police cooperation with Interpol and other agencies.