Expert: Three months to implement Advanced Passenger Screening
Published on: Friday, July 22, 2016
PETALING JAYA: The implementation of the Advanced Passenger Screening System (APSS), to prevent those with terrorism background from entering the country, will take an estimated three months, once it is approved by the Cabinet.An aviation expert said the system will have the complete background information on every foreigner who enters the country, especially by air, and it will be available in real time.He said the system will be used on inbound passengers, and it will be up to the Immigration Department to decide whether a foreigner will be allowed into the country when checking in with his airline.ADVERTISEMENT "If the person is denied entry into Malaysia, the airline will be responsible for preventing the person from boarding the aircraft," he said.He said the system, which is used in close to 80 countries, allows the authorities, such as the Immigration Department, to check the status of a passenger as he checks in.He added if the person is considered "undesirable", he will be immediately prevented from checking in and boarding the aircraft.Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Home Minister, made the APSS announcement at the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, recently.ADVERTISEMENT The expert said the system is already operational in some of the Asean countries such as Singapore and Thailand, and Myanmar will be implementing it soon."Some countries charge passengers for the service; in the United States, it's about US$7 (RM27.61), and Thailand charges 35 bahts. There has been a proposal to charge passengers in Malaysia but the amount has not been decided," he said and added that it should not exceed RM20.
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He said it was very important that the Immigration Department keep a close watch on the system and not reject people once they enter the country.The expert pointed out that more people enter the country via land and sea borders, adding that vehicles entering from Thailand are rarely given a 100pc check.He said this could be a problem as it would be easy to smuggle in people and other illegal items."Security must not only be stepped up at airports but also at all other entry points into the country as the APSS will be mainly used at international airports," he said.Malaysia Airlines Berhad will be the first local based carrier to use the APSS, followed by other local carriers and lastly all other airlines flying into Malaysia.Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamad said the government will implement the APSS as soon as possible after evaluating several factors, including the cost of implementation.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"It (the system) will apply to all airports and currently, we are also evaluating the need to close the waiting area in the airport building to limit the public (who are not passengers) from entering the area," he told reporters at the Pulai parliamentary constituency Aidilfitri open house.Nur Jazlan said they are looking at restricting certain areas in the airport as a permanent feature.