SEPANG: The Immigration Department will extend its operation hours at 20 selected passport issuing offices.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said following the result of public complaints on the congestion at the Immigration Department passport offices, the department will extend the operation hours at selected offices.
"The selected passport offices are the Menara Ikhlas in Putrajaya, Jalan Duta and Wangsa Maju in Kuala Lumpur; Shah Alam, Kelana Jaya, Kajang, Puchong, Kuala Selangor and Kuala Kubu Baru in Selangor; Setia Tropika, Muar, Kluang and Batu Pahat in Johor; Taiping and Teluk Intan in Perak; Melaka and Kulim in Kedah.
"These offices will open on weekends from 8am to 12.30pm starting from Jan 28 until the congestion issue is resolved," Saifuddin told reporters after officiating the KLIA Passport Office at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sepang, today.
He said that applicants can choose to go directly to Immigration Department counters to renew their passports or apply online.
"For those who intend to do it on the weekend, it is encouraged to go directly to the counters that are open, but if they choose to do it on the weekdays, it is encouraged to apply online," he said.
He added that throughout 2022, the Immigration Department saw an increase of 25 per cent in passport issuance.
"The Immigration Department saw a total of 2,574,435 passports issued compared to 2019 when it was only 2,006,208.
"For the year 2023 as of Jan 17, the department has issued a total of 156,711 passports."
Saiffudin added that on average, the department issues 210,000 passports every month with a daily issue of 10,000 passports.
Previously, it was reported that the perennial problem of long lines at Immigration Department counters did not seem to have been resolved despite the online appointment registration system now being employed.
The online system was touted as being the answer to the problem but still attracted countless complaints that the lines at Immigration passport renewal counters are still long.