PUTRAJAYA: The passport application services at three Immigration Department offices -- in Kajang, Kelana Jaya and Wangsa Maju -- will go fully online on June 1 to ease congestion.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government will utilise the 'MyOnline Passport' application service at the three branches as they were among most popular in the Klang Valley and issued the highest number of passports.
"The branches were also selected due to its good internet connectivity which enables it to conduct online passport services," Saifuddin said during a press conference at the Immigration Department headquarters here today.
"Currently, Klang Valley has 5G internet connection which means that the speed is faster," he said.
"These Immigration branches will be receiving applicants from those aged 13 to 18, 18 to 59 and elderly who are 60-years-old and above.
Saifuddin said those aged 13 to 59 were not accepted for counter services and walk-ins at these branches while other branches would accept passport applications as per usual.
However, he announced that the three selected branches would still accept counter service or walk-in applications for children aged 12 and below, applicants aged 60-years-old and above, pilgrims who received their Tabung Haji offers, the disabled and the family members who accompanied the children.
He said that after the Movement Control Order (MCO) was lifted, there was an increase in the number of passport applicants from last April to the end of 2022, with 2,347,493 passports issued.
"When the Movement Control Order (MCO) was lifted, people flooded into the immigration departments from April last year," he said.
"This year, as of May 12, there were 1,674,293 passports issued and of this, 464,725 passports were online applications.
"When we combine the amount of passports issued, it is more than four million passports.
He revealed that people who had their passports done would not use it.
"From the immigration statistics, for every 1,000 new passports issued, only 400 would use their passports for travels and 600 more would only keep their passports."
Saifuddin also presented certificates to the 205 receipients of 2022 Excellent Service Awards (Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang).
One of the recipients, immigration officer Nurul Erma Mohd Taib said she was grateful to receive the award today.
"Alhamdulillah, I am happy and grateful because of this initiative because our supervisors and other officers are able to see our hard work. It is really worth it.
Another excellent service award recipient was Immigration expatriate service department officer, deputy assistant director Mohd Hasbullah Yunus who expressed his gratitude towards the Immigration Department.
"I appreciate the initiative of celebrating the recipients. It will motivate more officers to continue to provide excellent service next year," he said.