Reduction in passport renewal fees worth the hassle - Tour executive

The Immigration Department's announcement in the reduction of passport renewal and application fees effective January 15 has brought much cheer to Malaysians.

However tour executive Zawidatul Asma Ahmad said, the move should have been done earlier.

The long waiting hours to obtain a passport can make one go insane and the price reduction is worth all the hassle.

“The long waiting hours at the immigration office can cause psychoneurosis,” she vented.

She also said the reason for the reduction in the fees is related to the drop in air travel fares.

The new passport renewal fee for ordinary applicants is RM200 for a five-year term.

Previously a RM300 fee was imposed to renew passports for five years and RM100 for two years.

The two-year term is no longer available from January 15 onwards.

As for administration executive, who only wants to be known as Lareena, the new rate for passport renewals and application will be “more convenient.”

Now, more people can travel with the new price rate.

Meanwhile designer Farizul Ramli said, it all depends on one’s financial background if the move is to enhance the number of Malaysian travellers.

He, who frequently travels to South East Asia, added the RM100 difference wouldn’t have much of a difference.

Some also expressed their concern that the reduction in passport renewal fees would cause congestion at the Immigration Office.

Parksafe Supervisor, who only wants to be known as Balakrishnan said, the reduction in both passport renewal and application fees could see an increase in the number of people renewing their passports. This could lead to congestion at Immigration Offices.

72-year-old pensioner Abdul Hak, who is anticipating a further reduction in both the renewal and application fees said, “I'm not sure whether there will indeed be an increase in the number of people applying for or renewing their passport following the reduction.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department's public relations officer, Abdul Haidir Mohd Sukor said the reduction in passport application and renewal fees has received overwhelming support.

"The counters are usually crowded but since the announcement, there has been a slight increase in the number of people. Just today I saw an increase from 300 to 400 people.

"Many are happy with the price reduction so we consider this a worthwhile move," he said.

According to New Straits Times Online, Immigration department deputy director-general Datuk Sakib Kusmi said, by abolishing the two-year term for passports, the congestion at the Immigration Office would then be reduced thus reducing the time to process passports.