PUTRAJAYA – The Immigration Department is ready in terms of systems, passport supply and manpower for the reopening of the country’s borders, its director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said.
“If the government decides to open the country’s borders anytime soon, the Immigration Department will be ready,” he said today.
He said the department has in stock some 1.2 million passports, which he said is enough to cope with demands until June next year.
Besides this, preparations have been made at all entry points, with the autogate system reactivated after being “rested” for about two and a half years.
“In terms of manpower, officers and personnel have been remobilised for duty as to how it was before Covid-19,” he said.
Khairul Dzaimee also checked on the Malaysian International Passport (PMA) online pilot project, which offers self-service counters and officers to help out online applicants since October 1, at the department headquarters here today.
He said online passport applications increased this year, with 69,371 applications received up to September, compared with 52,016 passports issued via online applications last year.
He said online passport applications increased in the middle of this year following flexibility given in the MyTravelPass category, adding that the numbers are expected to increase once borders are reopened.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced that the government will allow people to travel abroad without having to apply for the MyTravelPass once the country’s vaccination rate reaches 90% for adults.
Khairul Dzaimee said the online application self-service counters will be expanded to Immigration offices nationwide for passport renewals.
Meanwhile, passport applicant Amira Syahirah Mohd Zulkefli said the online application process is user-friendly and takes less than 30 minutes.
“It was a relatively simple process. I filled up the particulars required at the special counters and, less than 30 minutes later, my passport was ready.
“I am now waiting for the government to announce the reopening of the country’s international borders as I need to travel to Belgium to conduct equestrian training,” the 27-year-old trainer said.
Another passport applicant, Azhar Marzuki, meanwhile, said online transaction services must be expanded to other agencies as well as it is not only simple to use, but also convenient for working people.
“The Immigration’s online system is really good as we can access it via our devices anywhere, and then choose a date and time to pick up the passport. For working people, this means we do not have to apply for a full day’s leave,” he said. – Bernama, October 6, 2021
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