Brunei-Malaysia bilateral meet discusses immigration matters
By M K Anwar

Officials tackling immigration issues affecting Brunei and Malaysia

The Brunei Immigration Department is hosting a bilateral meeting with its counterparts from Malaysia.

The Joint Commission Meeting on Harmonisation of Immigration Matters started yesterday and is attended by Director of Immigration and National Registration, Awang Sa Bali bin Abas, who is also the head of the Brunei delegation.

This meeting will be third joint commission meeting between the two countries after the last one which was held in Miri Sarawak.

The Malaysian delegates include Datuk Mohd Jamal Kamdi, the Director General of Malaysian Immigration Department, and other senior immigration officers.

One important matter that is expected to be discussed is the frequent travellers' card to be launched soon. The use of the smart card, which is hoped to ease travel between the two countries, has been in the works for some time. It is said that the card will eliminate the need of passports for Bruneians and Malaysians travelling between the two countries hence improving efficiency and travel time.

The technology and innovation behind the smart card or MyKad as it is called in Malaysia was also presented by an appointed vendor in Malaysia.

Other matters to be discussed at the meeting will be the adoption of minutes from the 2nd Joint Commission Meeting in Miri last year and the possibility of the 24 hours operation for Control Post at the border gates.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin