Visas embedded with radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips will soon be issued by the Immigration Department to curb falsification of such documents by foreigners.

Parliamentary secretary to the home ministry, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, said the RFID will also assist immigration officers with monitoring the movement of foreigners who overstay.

"The chip will enable us to track them easily and efficiently," he said, adding that verification on the authenticity of the visas can be made via scanning machines and short messaging system (SMS) to the database in the headquarters.

He said for more efficient service, the headquarters will operate 24 hours to speed up the visa verification process.

"We will also conduct checks at certain spots after getting tip-offs from the public and this will be followed by operations to nab those who have overstayed," he said.

"Since inspection also plays a role in identifying illegal immigrants who have falsified their visas, (checks will be) conducted regularly at business premises, factories and construction sites."

According to Abdul Rahman, the Immigration Department branch at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport has identified 356 visa falsification cases as at last month.

He was replying Idris Haron (BN-Tangga Batu) who asked about action to identify forged visas at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.

To a different question, Abdul Rahman said foreign workers are subjected to health screenings before they are allowed to enter the country.

"For criminal records, we use the biometric system. We store the thumbprint of every foreigner that enters the country," he said.

Not denying the weaknesses in the Immigration Department, he said: "Last year, we increased the number of immigration officers only by 1,000 people.

“However, this year, with the deputy prime minister’s approval, we have increased the number of officers by 5,000."