SEPANG: The newly operational Immigration Department passport office at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is expected to reduce congestion at nearby passport offices.
Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in his speech that the passport office could benefit 3.4 million people of the Sepang district and its surrounding areas like Kuala Langat, parts of Petaling district, Seremban and Port Dickson.
"Not only would it benefit the people in the area, the KLIA passport office will also reduce congestion at the nearby passport offices in Putrajaya, Hulu Langat and Seremban Immigration Department office," he said.
He said that the KLIA Passport Office is a pilot project and a quick win for the Home Ministry to tackle the perennial problem of congestion at the Immigration Department's passport offices.
"It is a quick win initiative and a low hanging fruit for us (Home Ministry and Immigration Department), and if the pilot project is successful, we are looking at opening such an office at Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
"The passport office here since its operation on Dec 16 last year until yesterday (Jan 18) saw a total of 182 Malaysian passport applications issued," Saifuddin told reporters.
The office will also feature a National Registration Department counter which offers the service of issuing Temporary Identification Document for replacement of identification card and birth certificate.
The KLIA Passport Office began operating on a trial basis Dec 16 last year and was officially launched today.
The operation hours are from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays).