KANGAR: The Perlis Immigration Department on Monday (July 20) began issuing the new Malaysian International Passport (PMA), equipped with 94 security features, following the installation of a new passport printing machine earlier this month.
Perlis Immigration director Mohammad A'sim Md Ali said the new passport can currently be printed only at the Immigration Office in the Kangar Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).
"The installation of the new printing machine at the Perlis Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) Complex will be carried out after upgrading works on the building and service counters are completed, which is expected sometime this October," he told a press conference at the Kangar UTC Immigration Office here on Monday.
According to him, public response to the new travel document had been encouraging on its first day of implementation in Perlis.
Between Jan 1 and July 17, he said the Perlis Immigration Department issued 31,722 travel documents, comprising 6,918 passports, 72 Restricted Travel Documents and 24,732 Border Passes.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the new Malaysian International Passport on June 30, with applications opening to Malaysians aged 18 and above from July 1, where applicants may choose a passport validity period of either five or 10 years.
The introduction of the new passport marked an important transformation in strengthening the security of Malaysia's travel documents while providing greater convenience and added value to the public. - Bernama
