KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 ― The Home Ministry said it hoped to implement a screening system for air passengers to prevent extremists and criminals from flying into Malaysia by the second half of the year.
Local daily the New Straits Times reported Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim as saying that the system called the Advanced Passenger Screening System (APSS) would be developed with Interpol’s assistance.
“The screening is to ensure that passengers buying tickets to Malaysia are ‘clean’, do not have any extremist tendencies, criminal records or are on the Interpol blacklist,” Alwi was quoted saying.
“We will also cooperate with international agencies to ensure those entering Malaysia don’t have intentions to threaten the nation's security,” he added.
Alwi also reportedly said the Immigration Department was empowered to cancel the passports of Malaysians involved in terrorism, based on laws like the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the National Security Council Bill 2015.
Local police are on heightened alert after the recent bombings in Jakarta claimed by the Islamic State that killed eight, including three civilians.
National news agency Bernama reported Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying last November that Malaysia was looking at the UK’s Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems in coming up with the APSS.
