I have just got my new passport renewed stamped Feb 15. The old passport was due to expire in Dec 11, 2001. Since I needed to travel overseas in April and might not be back for a year or so, I thought I should renew it now and that it will start from the expiry date of the old passport.

However, that was not to be. The officer said if the passport is valid for six months still, then the renewal will start from the expiry date. If there are more than six months to go, then it will start on the date of renewal. This means only when the person's travel documents become invalid is the rebate of six months given.

So actually it is just another way of duping the public.

We still have a lot to learn in this age of technology on how to do business properly.