The Immigration Department has opened its new passport office at Kuala Lumpur International Airport which is aimed at reducing congestion at nearby passport offices for new passport and renewal applications. According to Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the new passport office is expected to benefit 3.4 million of the Sepang district and surrounding areas like Kuala Langat, and parts of Petaling, Seremban and Port Dickson.
He revealed that the KLIA Passport Office is a pilot project and it is a quick win for the Home Ministry to address congestion at Immigration Department’s passport offices. If the pilot project is successful, they are looking at opening a similar office at Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
Since the opening of the KLIA Passport Office on 16 December last year, it has handled 182 Malaysian passport applications as of 18th January 2023. It was reported that the office will also feature a National Registration Department that can issue Temporary Identification Documents for the replacement of IC and birth certificates.
At the moment, the new passport office is only open from Monday to Friday (except public holidays) between 8am to 5pm. The KLIA Passport office is located at the Long Term Car Park which is about 1.5km away from the KLIA Main Terminal Building. According to Malaysia Airport’s website, the parking rate is RM3.00 per hour for the first four hours.
Saifuddin also told reporters that 20 selected passport-issuing offices of the Immigration Department will operate on Saturday and Sundays from 28th January 2023. The selected passport offices include Menara Ikhlas in Putrajaya, Jalan Duta and Wangsa Maju in Kuala Lumpur; Shah Alam, Kelana Jaya, Kajang, Puchong, Port Klang, Kuala Selangor and Kuala Kubu Baru in Selangor; Setia Tropika, Kulai, Muar, Kluang and Batu Pahat in Johor; Melaka; Taiping and Teluk Intan in Perak; Seberang Jaya in Penang, and Kulim in Kedah. These offices will open from 8am to 12.30pm during the weekends.
The Minister also added that the operating hours for immigration offices at Urban Transformation Centres (UTC) will be extended to 7pm on weekdays and up to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays except for the states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, which are open on Friday and Saturday.
Since the reopening of international borders, the Immigration Department has seen a 25% increase in passport issuances. In 2022, they have issued 2.58 million passports versus 2.01 million passports in 2019.
[ SOURCE, IMAGE SOURCE ]
