Flood victims have until Dec 31 for free replacement passports

BAYAN LEPAS: Passports that were damaged or lost during the floods that hit Penang last weekend will be replaced free by the Immigration Department.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali advised the public not to deceive the department when submitting their applications.

“We are aware that some people who lost their passports before the floods might take advantage to replace their passports for free, but I urge them not to do so.

“It is an offence,” he told a press conference after giving out financial aid to 70 department personnel whose houses were affected by the floods at Surau Bayan Baru yesterday.

He said the department will investigate suspicious applications.

“We have ways of identifying genuine applicants,” he said.

Mustafar said the application for passport replacement is open today until Dec 31.

“The application can only be done at Immigration Department offices in Penang.

“Applicants who lost their passports have to lodge a police report before they make applications at the Immigration offices.

“Those with damaged passports need to bring the passports as evidence,” he said.

Penang National Registration Department spokesman Mohd Faizul Arifin said the department will issue free replacements for MyKad, birth certificates, wedding certificates, citizenship certificates and MyKid.

“Applicants have to show the flood certified letter issued by the district office. Their police report has to be detailed and specific to get the fee waived,” he said.

Mohd Faizul reminded flood victims to replace their documents, especially the MyKad, as soon as possible.

“It is an offence for a Malaysian not to have his or her MyKad. Applicants can get their MyKad ready in two hours if they apply at our headquarters in Jalan Anson and within 24 hours if they apply at our Bertam branch,” he said.