Latest news with #Zakaria
New Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Immigration launches MyVisa 2.0 for faster, fully digital visa applications
PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department has announced the launch of MyVisa 2.0, an upgraded digital visa platform aimed at strengthening public service delivery, particularly in the immigration sector. The system, which will go live on Aug 1, is an enhancement of the original MyVisa platform introduced on Dec 1, 2021. "MyVisa 2.0 is designed as an integrated digital platform to provide a faster, safer and more efficient visa application experience, in line with the expectations of citizens and international visitors who prioritise convenience in public services. "The upgraded platform features advanced technologies such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), real-time notifications, smart automation and a dedicated mobile application for applicants," it said. MyVisa 2.0 enables a fully digital visa application process — from passport scanning, document uploads and virtual interviews to real-time tracking, eVisa approval with QR codes and interactive assistance through live chat where applicants will no longer be required to visit Malaysian missions abroad. Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the new system incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency and security. "Applicants will no longer need to visit our offices. AI will verify their location, process applications and, if necessary, interviews will be conducted virtually using the system. This is part of the improvements under MyVisa 2.0. Zakaria said the system targets foreign nationals who require visas to enter Malaysia. "For countries that do not require a visa, this does not apply. However, source countries such as Bangladesh still require visas, even for tourist visits, so they will use the MyVISA application system," he said. He said applicants for long-term passes, such as students and foreign workers applying for Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS), must also apply for a visa before entering the country.
Kuwait Times
19-07-2025
- Kuwait Times
Malaysia border control glitch hits travelers
KUALA LUMPUR: An Air Asia Airbus A320 aircraft is seen on the tarmac at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's low-cost carrier terminal in Sepang.-- AFP KUALA LUMPUR: A glitch in Malaysia's self-service border control machines has hit tens of thousands of travellers, the immigration department estimated Saturday, causing delays at the capital's airport and land crossings. 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 neighboring 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. — AFP
eNCA
19-07-2025
- eNCA
Malaysia border control glitch hits travellers
KUALA LUMPUR - A glitch in Malaysia's self-service border control machines has hit tens of thousands of travellers, the immigration department estimated Saturday, causing delays at the capital's airport and land crossings. 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. llk/rsc
Eyewitness News
19-07-2025
- Eyewitness News
Malaysia border control glitch hits travellers
KUALA LUMPUR - A glitch in Malaysia's self-service border control machines has hit tens of thousands of travellers, the immigration department estimated Saturday, causing delays at the capital's airport and land crossings. 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.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Consumer forum orders compensation to high-end car owner
Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the supplier and manufacturer of a high-end car to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to a complainant. Complainant Bajpe Zakaria, a resident of Bolar in the city, appealed in his complaint before the commission, seeking direction to the opposite parties to pay compensation of Rs 25 lakh towards the higher price for the car. He also requested the extension of the agreed terms of 50% off/discount on service charges of the 2019 model vehicle for five years or until the vehicle is run up to 65,000 km. The complainant also sought the cost of the complaint from the opposite parties. Zakaria stated that he purchased the vehicle by paying Rs 1.3 crore and claimed that the price of the car was inflated and the sales managers and representatives agreed to extend 50% off on service for five years or up to 65,000 km. However, he received an email in April, 2020, stating the discontinuation of the 50% service package in Dec 2018. The complainant kept his car for service during June 2020, and a bill of Rs 33,563 was raised towards the service charges, though the car ran about 11,639 km and was well within the five years from the date of purchase, according to the complainant. After the hearing, DK District Consumer Commission president Somashekarappa K Handigol and woman member Sharadamma HG, in an order on July 11, directed the opposite parties to extend the agreed terms of 50% off/discount on service charges of the vehicle for five years or until the vehicle is run up to 65,000 km from the date of pronouncement of the order. The opposite parties were further directed to pay a sum of Rs 5 lakh as compensation for unfair trade practice, deficiency in service, mental agony, and inconvenience caused to the complainant. The commission also directed the opposite parties to pay a sum of Rs 10,000 as the cost of litigation to the complainant.
