Halting BCS now could be disastrous: Controller of Immigration

Controller of Immigration Dr Mohamed Ali has said that it is hard to predict the outcome of having to halt the Border Control System (BCS).

He said that the BCS currently controls and records all information of foreign passenger traffic at the airport, and having to halt using it subsequent to a Court Order could result in disaster and congestion at the airport.

“Halting it means we have to revert to doing everything manually. It’s hard to even predict what would happen, when we have 10 to 17 flights arriving at the airport every day,” he said.

He said that the recent Order by High Court has caused complications and confusion for the Immigration Department.

Mohamed Ali denied claims that the investment of $500 million by Nexbiz to establish the BCS can be recovered within one year.

He said that the BCS would facilitate the State to collect its due income, which it is currently not able to.

“Unless we address this, the problem of foreign nationals will get out of hand,” he said.

The BCS project was commenced disregardful of Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) order to halt the signing of the agreement between Immigration Department and Nexbiz.

Since then, the ACC has halted the BCS project through Court Orders on two occasions.

ACC has accused serious corruption being involved in this project.

The agreement signed between the Immigration Department and Malaysia’s Nexbiz allows Nexbiz to charge $2 on every passenger travelling to and from Maldives for a period of 22 years, and $15 on every new and renewal visa application.