Malaysia and Brunei plan to issue a frequent traveller card (FTC), making it easier for their citizens to move between the two countries, officials said today.

Malaysian immigration deputy director-general Abdullah Sani Sulaiman said a pilot project on FTC use was expected to be implemented early next year and would be introduced six months later if successful.

The move will benefit some 40,000 Malaysians working in the tiny sultanate surrounded by Malaysia's eastern Sarawak state, some of whom travel daily or weekly between the two countries, he said.

"With the FTC, one does not need to fill in immigration forms. Instead, one just has to hand over the FTC to immigration officers for the details to be recorded electronically," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Upgraded MyKad

Brunei's immigration and registration deputy director-general Zainal Abidin Ahmad added: "It is hoped that the FTC could speed up the process at the control posts of the two countries."

Abdullah said Malaysia's "smart" identity card, MyKad, carried by most citizens, would also be upgraded to include immigration data so that it can be used as an FTC.

"With the use of the FTC, our passports will no longer have to be stamped as the data in MyKad will be recorded by the immigration system," he added.

But he urged travellers to bring along their international passports in case immigration officers wanted to verify their status. - AFP