Malaysia border control glitch hits travellers
Among major gateways affected since Friday afternoon are Kuala Lumpur International Airport's two main terminals, as well as southern land crossings with Singapore.
"It should be more than tens of thousands of travellers who have to wait longer at the manual counters to clear immigration," estimated Zakaria Shaaban, director-general of Malaysia's Immigration Department.
Zakaria was unable to give a precise number of people affected when asked by AFP.
"We don't have many manual counters over in Johor because we have converted most of them into autogates," Zakaria said, referring to the southern state neighbouring Singapore.
Malaysian daily The Star said the breakdown has been described as the "worst ever", involving over 200 machines and affecting only foreign passport holders.
Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority warned people intending to travel to Malaysia to expect delays.
"Those who are already at the land checkpoints and need to U-turn can approach officers for assistance," it said in a Facebook post.
Since June 2024 travellers from 63 countries, as well as accredited diplomats and their families, have been allowed to use Malaysia's self-service machines for immigration clearance.
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency said initial investigations found the "technical disruption" was due to a data integration issue.
"This caused the delays in the cross-checking process within the MyIMMS (immigration) system," it said in a statement.
"All manual counters have been fully activated and additional personnel have been deployed to manage the flow of visitors and control the queues at the best capacity," the agency added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Houghton's Salt Road restaurant champions the art of coking with sodium
Houghton's Salt Road restaurant champions the art of coking with sodium Championing the art of cooking with sodium is Houghton's newly launched Salt Road restaurant. As chefs around the world revisit the ancient techniques of curing, fermenting and even baking with salt, a Joburg restaurant is leading the charge locally. Salt restaurant, launched on July 26, located on 10 2nd Avenue Boutique Hotel reintroduces itself to food lovers with a refined culinary approach rooted in the ancient, yet increasingly relevant, art of cooking with salt. The opening night was filled with an immersive experience that began with bubbles at sunset as well as a sound and salt tasting and ended in a candlelit food and wine journey through the new menu. Led by celebrated chefs, restaurateurs and consultant Craig Cormack and Beau Du Toit, the restaurant draws on over 40 years of culinary expertise and nearly two decades of thorough research into global history and techniques of salt-based cooking, from old-world preservation to contemporary finesse. Also read: Radisson Red Johannesburg-Rosebank's head chef curates tongue wagging winter menu Menus are seasonal and designed to reduce waste, with composting as standard practice and many herbs grown on site 'Quality isn't negotiable. It starts with the produce, but it ends with how we treat people, our team, suppliers, and guests,' noted Cormack. Cormack's private collection of over 180 salts, sourced from regions as diverse as Peru and Denmark, forms the backbone of a menu designed not around fleeting trends, but technique. Also read: David Krut Projects showcases artist's latest exhibition Salt Road's atmosphere complements its culinary intent of elegance in intimate surroundings designed for slow, sensory dining. A curated whiskey and wine lounge also offers curated pairing experiences that highlight how salt can enhance and elevate tasting profiles. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
#BestofBallito: Building global leaders at Crawford North Coast
Crawford International North Coast (ages 3 to Grade 12) offers future-focused, student-centred education that is both locally rooted and globally relevant. Located just 15 minutes from Ballito or Umhlanga on a stunning private campus, the school provides a nurturing and inspiring environment. From the start, pupils are immersed in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme in Pre-Primary and Preparatory phases. This globally aligned, inquiry-based approach gives pupils voice, choice and agency. A proud finalist in the 2025 Best of Ballito Readers' Choice Awards, Crawford International North Coast placed second in all three education categories: Best Pre-Primary, Best Private Primary and Best Private High School. The school is also recognised for outstanding IEB matric results and its innovative, concept-based learning model that equips pupils with a global competitive edge. Boarding at Crawford is more than a place to stay. It's a home where students find comfort, focus and connection. With recently revamped spaces and individual rooms from Grade 6 to Grade 12, boarders enjoy privacy, independence and lasting friendships. The academic programme is supported by a passionate, highly qualified teaching team who deliver relevance and authenticity in the classroom. Pupils gain not just knowledge, but skills and understanding that prepare them for success in an ever-changing world. Beyond the classroom, students enjoy a vibrant sports and cultural life. Teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship are developed through sporting activities including hockey, netball, tennis, squash, archery, basketball, soccer and cricket, with outstanding facilities like a heated learn-to-swim pool in addition to the main pool. Cultural enrichment is at the very heart of the Crawford International ethos. It is integrated into the curriculum and offered through extra-curriculars in drama, music, art, and dance – encouraging creative expression through to Grade 12. Every day is an Open Day at Crawford International North Coast. Families are invited to book a personalised tour and discover what makes the school truly unique. If you are seeking academic excellence and a nurturing environment that allows your child access to top universities from around the world, contact the school today for admission in 2026. Website: Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
eNCA
2 days ago
- eNCA
Millions return home as Pacific tsunami warnings lifted
ECUADOR - Tsunami warnings were lifted across the Pacific rim Wednesday, allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home. After one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded rattled Russia's sparsely populated Far East, more than a dozen nations - from Japan to the United States to Ecuador - warned citizens to stay away from coastal regions. Storm surges of up to four metres (12 feet) were predicted for some parts of the Pacific, after the 8.8 quake struck off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. The tsunamis caused widespread disruption. Peru closed 65 of its 121 Pacific ports and authorities on Maui cancelled flights to and from the Hawaiian island. But fears of a catastrophe were not realised, with country after country lifting or downgrading warnings and telling coastal residents they could return. In Japan, almost two million people had been ordered to higher ground, before the warnings were downgraded or rescinded. AFP | Kazuhiro NOGI The Fukushima nuclear plant in northeast Japan - destroyed by a huge quake and tsunami in 2011 - was temporarily evacuated. The only reported fatality was a woman killed while driving her car off a cliff in Japan as she tried to escape, local media reported. In Chile, authorities conducted what the Interior Ministry said was "perhaps the most massive evacuation ever carried out in our country" - with 1.4 million people ordered to high ground. Chilean authorities reported no damage or victims and registered waves of just 60 centimetres (two feet) on the country's north coast. In the Galapagos Islands, where waves of up to three meters were expected, there was relief as the Ecuadoran navy's oceanographic institute said the danger had passed. Locals reported the sea level falling and then rising suddenly, a phenomenon which is commonly seen with the arrival of a tsunami. But only a surge of just over a meter was reported, causing no damage. AFP | Connie FRANCE "Everything is calm, I'm going back to work. The restaurants are reopening and the places tourists visit are also open again," said 38-year-old Santa Cruz resident Isabel Grijalva. Earlier national parks were closed, schools were shuttered, loudspeakers blared warnings and tourists were spirited off sightseeing boats and onto the safety of land. The worst damage was seen in Russia, where a tsunami crashed through the port of Severo-Kurilsk and submerged the local fishing plant, officials said. Russian state television footage showed buildings and debris swept into the sea. The surge of water reached as far as the town's World War II monument about 400 meters from the shoreline, said Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov. AFP | Eugene Tanner The initial quake also caused limited damage and only light injuries, despite being the strongest since 2011, when 15,000 people were killed in Japan. Russian scientists reported that the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted shortly after the earthquake. "Red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions," said Russia's Geophysical Survey. - Pacific alerts - NOAA/AFP | - Wednesday's quake was the strongest in the Kamchatka region since 1952, the regional seismic monitoring service said, warning of aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude. The US Geological Survey said the quake was one of the 10 strongest tremors recorded since 1900. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks that further shook the Russian Far East, including one of 6.9 magnitude. The USGS said there was a 59 percent chance of an aftershock of more than 7.0 magnitude in the next week.
