Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR148
2008-03-04 06:01:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA DEPLOYS NEW IMMIGRATION ARRIVAL DATA
how-toVZCZCXYZ4642 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKL #0148 0640601 ZNY SSSSS ZZH (CCY ADX0678CCE MSI5019 611) R 040601Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0622 INFO RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
S E C R E T KUALA LUMPUR 000148
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED CAPTION
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND DS/IT/ITA
NCTC FOR HSTC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KFRD MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA DEPLOYS NEW IMMIGRATION ARRIVAL DATA
SYSTEM
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and D)
S E C R E T KUALA LUMPUR 000148
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED CAPTION
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND DS/IT/ITA
NCTC FOR HSTC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KFRD MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA DEPLOYS NEW IMMIGRATION ARRIVAL DATA
SYSTEM
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and D)
1. (SBU) Malaysian Immigration has upgraded its collection of
arriving passenger data, moving from paper landing forms to
an electronic system. The system, a product developed
locally, is called the Single Immigration Platform System
(SIPS). Immigration deployed SIPS in late January at 44 entry
points. SIPS is used to collect arrival data of all
foreigners at these entry points. The government plans to
expand this program to all ports of entry, according to
Immigration officials. Meanwhile, the remaining border
crossings still use paper immigration forms.
2. (C) At the invitation of Immigration officials, an
Embassy consular officer recently observed the new system at
Kuala Lumpur International Airport. All passports are read
electronically, and data from the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ)
prepopulates data fields such as passport number and traveler
name. Passports without MRZ's are keystroked in by the
officer. The officer then enters other data such as age,
citizenship, and gender. Immigration scans the boarding pass
too. A second data entry screen contains more details about
the passport/travel document, such as place of issuance and
validity. Immigration then asks and codes from a drop down
menu the reason for the visit -- business, residence,
tourism, etc. They then record the length of the visa (90 day
social pass, permanent resident, long term worker, etc.). The
third and final screen records where the visitor is staying
(but only in general terms like hotel or private residence).
Finally, officials record how many times the person has been
to Malaysia. The traveler receives no card, only a stamp in
his/her passport.
3. (S/NF) Comment: This post has had long-standing concerns
about the lack of attention to travel documents and passenger
profiling given to arriving travelers by Malaysian
Immigration. Per our observation of the new procedures, the
Immigration officials were much more engaged with travelers
because of SIPS. The system forces Immigration officers to
ask questions and enter data. Reportedly, Immigration
officials already have caught people overstaying their visas,
and questioned people who have made a suspicious number of
trips to Malaysia in the short time since the program stood
up. We understand that the Royal Malaysian Police Special
Branch, charged with counter-terrorism and domestic
intelligence, have complained about SIPS' lack of specific
addresses and telephone contacts, information that was
available under the old system. Even so, electronic access
to the movement of travelers seems a significant upgrade from
the previous system, and when effectively implemented should
upgrade Malaysia's ability to monitor its borders. Post will
have future opportunities to learn more about Malaysia's
deployment of the new immigration arrival data system.
KEITH
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED CAPTION
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND DS/IT/ITA
NCTC FOR HSTC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KFRD MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA DEPLOYS NEW IMMIGRATION ARRIVAL DATA
SYSTEM
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and D)
1. (SBU) Malaysian Immigration has upgraded its collection of
arriving passenger data, moving from paper landing forms to
an electronic system. The system, a product developed
locally, is called the Single Immigration Platform System
(SIPS). Immigration deployed SIPS in late January at 44 entry
points. SIPS is used to collect arrival data of all
foreigners at these entry points. The government plans to
expand this program to all ports of entry, according to
Immigration officials. Meanwhile, the remaining border
crossings still use paper immigration forms.
2. (C) At the invitation of Immigration officials, an
Embassy consular officer recently observed the new system at
Kuala Lumpur International Airport. All passports are read
electronically, and data from the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ)
prepopulates data fields such as passport number and traveler
name. Passports without MRZ's are keystroked in by the
officer. The officer then enters other data such as age,
citizenship, and gender. Immigration scans the boarding pass
too. A second data entry screen contains more details about
the passport/travel document, such as place of issuance and
validity. Immigration then asks and codes from a drop down
menu the reason for the visit -- business, residence,
tourism, etc. They then record the length of the visa (90 day
social pass, permanent resident, long term worker, etc.). The
third and final screen records where the visitor is staying
(but only in general terms like hotel or private residence).
Finally, officials record how many times the person has been
to Malaysia. The traveler receives no card, only a stamp in
his/her passport.
3. (S/NF) Comment: This post has had long-standing concerns
about the lack of attention to travel documents and passenger
profiling given to arriving travelers by Malaysian
Immigration. Per our observation of the new procedures, the
Immigration officials were much more engaged with travelers
because of SIPS. The system forces Immigration officers to
ask questions and enter data. Reportedly, Immigration
officials already have caught people overstaying their visas,
and questioned people who have made a suspicious number of
trips to Malaysia in the short time since the program stood
up. We understand that the Royal Malaysian Police Special
Branch, charged with counter-terrorism and domestic
intelligence, have complained about SIPS' lack of specific
addresses and telephone contacts, information that was
available under the old system. Even so, electronic access
to the movement of travelers seems a significant upgrade from
the previous system, and when effectively implemented should
upgrade Malaysia's ability to monitor its borders. Post will
have future opportunities to learn more about Malaysia's
deployment of the new immigration arrival data system.
KEITH