New system: An Immigration officer scanning a passport using the new Border Control System at the Immigration Control Post at Kuala Lurah. Picture: Zamri Zainal
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
THE Kuala Lurah Immigration Control Post had to clarify the new passport exemption regulations yesterday after two locals passed through without stopping for a security check.
"Don't get the wrong perception, all passport holders must still produce their documents when they reach the security post," said Hj Jemin Hj Maidin, head of Immigration at Kuala Lurah.
The locals, who had assumed that without requirement of stamps all they had to do was pass through the control post, had to be chased over the border and brought back. They also had the new regulations explained carefully to them to avoid further misunderstanding.
"They can't be blamed for something like that, this is a new system that has only started operations so incidents like that were bound to happen," said Hj Jemin.
Failure to produce passport for examination by immigration officers will result in a penalty of no more than $5,000 and imprisonment for a maximum of three years.
"The stamp exemption is a small step at improving on the methods of checking passports. On the other hand, matters of border security will remain the same as they were before," said Hj Jemin.
Installation of the new scanning and stamp exempt system had started last year. Yesterday was the first time the stamp exemption began at all immigration control posts in the country.
Hj Jemin had assured the public that the time spent on setting up the new system upgrades was to ensure that there was no room for mistakes or taking advantage of the system.
"It's a foolproof system which cannot be cheated. The system can detect any discrepancies and offenders will be caught," said Hj Jemin.
Hj Jemin also stressed the need for other immigration posts to clarify the changes to those entering and exiting the country so that the operations can run smoothly.
Advantages of the new system include more rapid processing of the passport and faster and more efficient service.
"The system has been working out fine. What used to take three minutes to process now takes seconds with the use of the passport scanners," said Hj Jemin.
He added that the new system would allow for local passport holders to cut down on the amount of pages used, especially if the pages are filled up before the expiry date, thus saving on the cost of acquiring new passports.
The stamps exemption are only valid for Bruneian passport holders with yellow identity cards.
Coloured identity cards holders, foreign passport and International Certificate of Identity and citizens who are stateless, still need to acquire the stamps from the immigration post upon entering and exiting the country.
The Brunei Times
"Don't get the wrong perception, all passport holders must still produce their documents when they reach the security post," said Hj Jemin Hj Maidin, head of Immigration at Kuala Lurah.
The locals, who had assumed that without requirement of stamps all they had to do was pass through the control post, had to be chased over the border and brought back. They also had the new regulations explained carefully to them to avoid further misunderstanding.
"They can't be blamed for something like that, this is a new system that has only started operations so incidents like that were bound to happen," said Hj Jemin.
Failure to produce passport for examination by immigration officers will result in a penalty of no more than $5,000 and imprisonment for a maximum of three years.
"The stamp exemption is a small step at improving on the methods of checking passports. On the other hand, matters of border security will remain the same as they were before," said Hj Jemin.
Installation of the new scanning and stamp exempt system had started last year. Yesterday was the first time the stamp exemption began at all immigration control posts in the country.
Hj Jemin had assured the public that the time spent on setting up the new system upgrades was to ensure that there was no room for mistakes or taking advantage of the system.
"It's a foolproof system which cannot be cheated. The system can detect any discrepancies and offenders will be caught," said Hj Jemin.
Hj Jemin also stressed the need for other immigration posts to clarify the changes to those entering and exiting the country so that the operations can run smoothly.
Advantages of the new system include more rapid processing of the passport and faster and more efficient service.
"The system has been working out fine. What used to take three minutes to process now takes seconds with the use of the passport scanners," said Hj Jemin.
He added that the new system would allow for local passport holders to cut down on the amount of pages used, especially if the pages are filled up before the expiry date, thus saving on the cost of acquiring new passports.
The stamps exemption are only valid for Bruneian passport holders with yellow identity cards.
Coloured identity cards holders, foreign passport and International Certificate of Identity and citizens who are stateless, still need to acquire the stamps from the immigration post upon entering and exiting the country.
The Brunei Times