Malaysia trials second QR code system at Johor border crossing with Singapore
JOHOR BAHRU – Malaysia has begun trialling another QR code system for Malaysian travellers, with more than 35,000 people registering to use the system aimed at expediting immigration clearance at the border crossing with Singapore.
The QR code system, known as MyRentas, can be used by bus passengers at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Johor Bahru.
The trial, which started on June 23, follows an earlier application known as MyTrip – used at the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex CIQ at the Second Link – which went live on June 1.
To date, more than 150,000 people, mostly frequent travellers, have registered for MyRentas and MyTrip.
Johor Works, Transportation, Infrastructure and Communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, when contacted, said both systems were still on trial under the three-month-long proof-of-concept period.
He said that so far, MyRentas is available only to Android mobile phone users.
“We are expecting a third application to also start soon... Let us see which one is the most suitable to be used at our checkpoints with Singapore,” he told The Star.
For motorcyclists, an application possibly named MyBorderPass will also be launched soon to replace the problematic MBike system which started about eight years ago.
When asked about teething problems, Mr Mohamad Fazli said issues relating to MyRentas and MyTrip include delays in generating QR codes because of low internet speed at the checkpoints, especially during peak hours.
“We are looking at ways to address these issues,” he said, adding that overall there were no major complaints about the trial run for the QR code systems.
He assured the public that besides the QR code applications, there were other means to clear immigration, including e-gates and manual counters.
According to reports, the MyTrip and MyRentas QR code applications can cut the checkpoint clearance time for a bus full of passengers by more than 75 per cent and clear an average of about 20 passengers in less than five minutes. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK