Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) $12.50 per year

[Gary]

For those who go to Malaysia to observe on a monthly basis, $12.50 seems reasonable. Anyone have any experience using MACS?

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Title : Malaysia sorry for "biometric jam"
By :
Date : 05 October 2011 1833 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ ... 28/1/.html

SINGAPORE: Malaysia's Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen has apologised for the inconvenience caused to travellers when it implemented the biometric system at its borders recently.

The Malaysian authorities introduced in June this year fingerprint scanning, resulting in long queues of vehicles caused by longer clearance time.

Dr Ng, in Singapore to launch the latest Tourism Malaysia advertising blitz, said the authorities faced challenges when the system first started and lessons have been learnt.

She admitted the hiccups have had a negative impact as tourist numbers dropped significantly during that period.

Dr Ng said steps are now being taken to facilitate and simplify the immigration clearance system.

"Immigration clearance plays a big part in providing a good experience for Singaporeans when they come to Malaysia," Dr Ng said.

"Fast clearance, easy clearance will encourage them to come more often. So, we would like to see that happen. We cannot always blame immigration because the load is so big."

She is also hoping that more Singaporeans will apply and make use of the Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) for faster clearance.

Those who get the MACS Pass have a sticker in their passports which can be scanned upon entry and departure.

Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents can apply for the pass as long as their passports are valid for at least two years.

They do not need to fill in an immigration card or have their passports stamped as the information is captured by a computer system.

The pass, which costs S$12.50, is valid for a year before it needs to be renewed.

Currently, there are about 100,000 Singaporeans with a MACS Pass, and Dr Ng said she hopes the number can grow to about two million.

Singapore and Malaysia are also planning a rapid transit system (RTS), linking Woodlands to Johor Bahru by 2018.

"I received 13 million Singaporeans last year. So, I'm looking forward to the MRT between Singapore and Johor Bahru," Dr Ng said.

-CNA/wk