Immigration Dept shows four-fold increase of passport issuance post …

THE Malaysian Immigration Department has issued as many as 2.8 million passports since post-Covid-19, which is a four-fold increase, said Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said of that number, 45% applied for passports online which only took three minutes, following which applicants could collect their passports after two to three days. "Everyday, immigration has to contend with crowds and (it) is also facing congestion but not at all of its offices since the end of the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the opening of the border, for example in Perlis the immigration department issues 20 to 30 passports everyday but in Damansara, Shah Alam and Kelana Jaya, we issue (passports) many times over, where there is congestion.

"Since post-Covid-19, we have issued almost 2.8 million passports and not a single one of the applications has been rejected, of which 45% applied online while the rest appeared in person at the immigration office. Of that number (2.8 million passports), 40% have no plans to leave the country while the rest travel (overseas)," Saifuddin Nasution said in George Town tonight. His comments came after attending the Home Ministry Madani Implementation of Virtuous Values and Iftar ceremony, which also saw the attendance of Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Immigration director-general Ruslin Jusoh and Penang police chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

Saifuddin who is also Pantai Jerejak state assemblyman said the department will also introduce a pilot project to overcome congestion at passport issuing offices which are always crowded by only opening online applications and subsequent passport collection because there is widespread internet coverage in the area. "This pilot project is being fine-tuned and we will implement it after everything is finalised. For starters, it will involve the passport issuing offices in the Klang Valley which are often congested and then be expanded to other locations.

"We have 77 passport-issuing offices across the country and since 21 of these experience severe congestion, we have had to increase working hours to include Saturdays and Sundays. This helped ease the congestion at said locations," he said. Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said the police received 395,000 complaints nationwide every month and are doing their best to follow up each report as there is no question of turning down any complaint received.

"Often in my discussions with the Inspector-General of Police, I always emphasise that the police must take immediate action on complaints involving national security issues and also issues that impinge or are deemed insulting touching on religion, race, the country and royal institutions. We also do not overlook the usual complaints such as crime or index (serious) crime. "We take note of all complaints and are determined to investigate all complaints.

This is also the usual courtesy and respect upheld in ministry agencies including the police," he said. - Bernama, April 8, 2023.