Kuala lumpur: The Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Passports (Amendment) Bill 2025 were introduced for their first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today. The Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who presented the bills, announced that their second and third readings are set for the current parliamentary session.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the proposed amendment to the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) aims to include new provisions related to the utilization of an automated system and the regulation of individuals entering or leaving Malaysia via rail services. Clause 6 of the Bill proposes a new Section 22A, requiring individuals to submit personal identifiers and biometric data before entering Malaysia. Immigration officers would have the authority to deny entry to anyone refusing to provide this information.

Clause 7 outlines an amendment to Section 24 of Act 155, requiring individuals arriving by sea or air to undergo immigration inspection by an officer or through an automated system before entry is permitted. Similarly, Clause 8 amends Section 26, stipulating that individuals arriving by land must also be inspected by an immigration officer or using an automated system.

The Passports (Amendment) Bill 2025 is designed to modify the Passports Act 1966 in response to the changes proposed in the Immigration Act. These amendments require all individuals entering or exiting Malaysia to undergo inspection by an immigration officer or through an automated system.