Beginning June 1, foreign visitors to Malaysia are no longer required to fill in the immigration disembarkation card, commonly known as the IMM.26 Form.

They only need to produce their passports upon entering the country.

Officials assured that the abolishment of the form would not compromise national security.

Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam said the procedure was no longer required following the introduction of the biometric recording system by the immigration department.

The system records the data of foreigners through the National Enforcement Registration System (Ners).

Mahmood said Ners, which was introduced on June 1 last year, fulfilled the tourism ministry’s requirement to record the data of foreign tourists to Malaysia.

"The decision to abolish the use of the IMM.26 Form was made in a meeting between the immigration department and the home and tourism ministries," he said in a statement yesterday.

The new procedure would facilitate the arrival process of visitors and shorten the processing time at the country’s entry points, he added.

The public can call the immigration department at 1-800-22-6969 or e-mail pro@imi.gov.my for queries.