5-12-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Starting from January 1, the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) will be compulsory for foreign travellers entering Malaysia. However, Singaporean citizens will be exempted from filling up the digital card, according to the announcement made by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at a news conference held at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on December 5.
The exemption also applies to diplomatic passport holders, Malaysian permanent residents, Brunei General Certificate of Identity holders, and Thailand Border Pass holders. Saifuddin Nasution Ismail clarified that the exemption for Singaporeans is applicable at all entry points, not limited to the southern entry points in Johor.
The MDAC was initially scheduled for formal implementation on December 8, but foreign travellers have been granted a grace period of almost one month. While filling up the card is currently voluntary, incoming travellers are encouraged to do so.
Malaysia’s two border crossings with Singapore are among the busiest globally, with approximately 135 million transits via the crossing each year. The figure is expected to rise to 150 million in 2026. The exemption for Singaporeans aims to streamline the entry process for those who frequently travel between the two countries.
There have been mixed messages and confusion regarding the MDAC’s applicability, with reports of travellers receiving conflicting information from Malaysian immigration officers. The card, to be completed within three days before arrival in Malaysia, requires travellers to provide personal particulars on the MDAC website, including their name, nationality, passport details, arrival and departure dates. The card must be presented to immigration officers upon arrival.
The introduction of the MDAC is part of Malaysia’s efforts to enhance security and keep track of tourists entering the country. Saifuddin Nasution Ismail emphasized the importance of this measure and mentioned that other countries are implementing similar systems.
The exemption for Singaporeans acknowledges the frequent border crossings and the practicality of streamlining entry procedures for this particular group of travellers. Malaysia is expecting 7.8 million visits by Singaporean tourists in 2023, and Singapore currently holds the highest contributor status to tourist arrivals in Malaysia, recording 4,537,550 arrivals up to July 2023.
To further ease the arrival process, 14 new passport control counters have been set up at KLIA from December 1, bringing the total number to 60, as announced by Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
