The Immigration Department does not have to replace the myIMMs immigration system but must improve it to fulfil rising needs, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said today.

PAC chairperson Hasan Arifin said improvements are needed so that immigration officers and staff are able to handle the system better.

He also said that it was important to have the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) directly involved in every planning and implementation aspect of the immigration information technology system.

Mampu should constantly monitor and provide inputs and suggestions to upgrade the myIMMs to keep it up to date and ensure national security, he said in a statement.

Hasan issued the statement after the PAC heard clarifications today from the Home Ministry and Department of Immigration on issues raised on the myIMMs Immigration System in the first series of the 2015 Auditor-General's Report.

He said Home Ministry secretary-general Alwi Ibrahim, Immigration director-general Mustafar Ali and Immigration deputy director-general (management) Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman addressed the committee between 11am and 1.30pm.

"The PAC is satisfied with the clarifications and information provided by the Home Ministry and the Department of Immigration.

"However, the PAC wants the government, particularly the Home Ministry and the Department of Immigration, to ensure that all systems developed and used can be integrated as a whole," he said.

Hasan said the myIMMs system was good and had won many awards in the country and abroad for performance.

- Bernama