SEPANG – The automated gate (autogate) system for foreign travellers at Malaysia’s key entry points has been fully restored as of last night, following widespread disruptions that left hundreds of thousands affected.
Malaysian Border Control Agency (AKPS) Director-General Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain confirmed the system is now operating at full capacity, and extended an apology to those inconvenienced.
“I was informed that 380,000 foreign visitors were affected by the autogate disruption yesterday.
“In response, AKPS instructed all entry counters to be operated manually by officers on duty to ensure smoother movement in and out of the country,” he said during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today.
When asked if sabotage may have been behind the disruption, Mohd Shuhaily said investigations were ongoing but dismissed sabotage as the likely cause at this time.
“I do not want to speculate, as that may worsen the situation,” he said.
He added that the disruption is believed to have stemmed from a data integration issue between the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) and a security database belonging to an international enforcement agency, resulting in slow cross-checking processes.
Asked for assurances that similar incidents will not recur, Shuhaily said the matter was beyond the agency’s control but pledged that AKPS would do its best to prevent future disruptions.
Media reports yesterday said the autogate system for foreign visitors began experiencing disruptions on Friday, believed to be caused by a data integration issue that hampered the MyIMMs cross-verification process.
The incident led to long queues and congestion at several major entry points, including KLIA Terminals 1 and 2, the Sultan Iskandar Building Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex (CIQ BSI), and the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ Complex (KSAB).
AKPS clarified that the disruption did not affect Malaysian passport holders, and that immediate measures were taken in coordination with the Immigration Department to address the issue. – July 20, 2025.