KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department expects the demand for passports will see its service hours being extended for the next three months.
It's director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the extended hours will remain in place until demand goes back to what it was.
"We don't have a deadline as yet how long this system will be in place.
"But I expect it should last three months to cope with the increasing demand for passports now that borders have opened. We want to continue this until demand goes back to what it was," he said while visiting the Kuala Lumpur Immigration headquarters.
Khairul said congestion at the department's counter services for passports is also expected to last for the next three to four months.
He said that 208,607 passports have been issued from April 1 until 7pm today.
To illustrate the volume of demand, he also shared that there had been an increase of 42,000 passports issued in the past five days.
Khairul, however, said there were sufficient passport books to go around, adding that the department had a stock of 1.2 million passports in its store.
Meanwhile, he called on members of the public to use its online appointment system (STO).
Khairul, who during his visit took note of the glitches involving the system's photo uploading tool, among others said passport applicants facing this issue can just go ahead with the process without attaching their photo, print out the completed application alongside the payment slip.
Passports can also be issued on the same day.
"Anyone using the online system can save at least 45 minutes or 1 hour (on a regular day) or more when there is a congestion."
A check by the New Straits Times today at the Immigration Department in Jalan Duta, there were around 30 to 40 people waiting to get their passport.
An applicant who only wanted to be known as Aziz said it took him just 30 minutes to renew his passport.
"I just came by to check the office tonight because the place was packed from morning to evening. I wasn't expecting for it to be done so fast. The process is very smooth, and it only took me approximately 30 minutes only."
Aziz said today was the first day of operation hours of the immigration counters were extended to 10pm so few people know about this.
Operating hours at six Immigration offices have been extended to 10pm beginning today to cater to a sharp increase in demand for passports.
The offices involved are in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur Selangor, Johor, Negri Sembilan and Melaka. - NST
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