In an attempt to curb transborder crime and terrorism, Malaysia on Thursday said that all foreigners entering and leaving the country will have both index fingers scanned at Immigration checkpoints from next month.

The biometric fingerprint security system is aimed at enhancing security in the immigration clearance process, which currently involves only stamping of passports and matching photographs in the passports to faces.

Immigration officials said that with rampant forgery of travel documents nowadays, the biometric system would allay this worry.

Immigration Department Director General Alias Ahmad said such a security measure was deemed necessary in view of the increasing number of foreigners who had abused their privileges as visitors.

He said three per cent of the 24.4 million foreigners who visited the country last year had been involved in various crimes.

"Usually, foreign criminals use a different passport when they re-enter the country. If we have their fingerprint records, we will be able to check if they had previously used a different passport," he was quoted by New Straits Time as saying. He added that if it was found positive then it would be justified to suspect the motive of their visits and bar them from entering.

"The records will also assist police in checking if the foreigners had committed any criminal activities in the country, or if they are overstaying. This will enable us to arrest them on the spot with the help of the police," he told the paper.

Scanners will be installed at Immigration booths in all air, land and sea entry points in the country by the end of this month to facilitate the full implementation of the system from June 1.