MP demands audit into 26k passports over 10-year validity as fliers face snags

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has called for an independent audit into the issuance of some 26,000 Malaysian passports with validity periods exceeding 10 years, questioning the approval process and costs incurred by affected holders.

In a statement today, Lim welcomed the introduction of 10-year passports on July 1 but said the rollout exposed a serious failure in planning and testing.

“Find out who approved it. Reveal the cost. Hold them accountable. Those responsible cannot hide behind technical explanations.

“No excuses, no passing the buck and no protection for incompetence,” he stressed.

Lim was responding to Immigration Department director-general Zakaria Shaaban’s explanation that some travellers encountered problems because airline systems were configured to accept passports with no more than 10 years’ validity.

Zakaria said about 38,000 10-year passports had been issued since July 1, including 26,000 with validity exceeding 10 years.

The issue arose because Malaysians who renewed their passports early had previously been allowed to carry forward up to six months of unused validity.

Applied to the new 10-year option, this resulted in some passports being issued with validity of up to 10 years and six months.

While Zakaria also clarified that passports exceeding 10 years do not breach International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, Lim said that doesn’t explain why the Immigration Department stopped the practice.

“That may be technically correct, but it completely misses the point. A passport is not a test product. It must work smoothly when Malaysians travel.

“His defence also raises an obvious question. If passports exceeding 10 years were perfectly acceptable, why did the immigration abruptly stop the practice and offer free replacements?

“A government agency does not suspend a programme and absorb extra costs unless a massive mistake was made,” the DAP lawmaker said.

Lim, who cited passport practices in Singapore and Australia, also questioned why airline system limitations were not identified earlier.

“Singapore avoided this problem. Its adult passports are capped at 10 years, while unused validity is carried forward only for five-year passports. Australia also does not carry unused validity into renewed passports.

“Under European Union entry rules, non-EU travellers must use passports issued within the previous 10 years,” he said.

Taxpayers, travellers pay the price

Lim added that the replacements would impose unnecessary costs on taxpayers while inconveniencing affected passport holders.

“This blunder inflicts real financial losses on our country. Giving out free replacements means taxpayers are paying twice for wasted passport booklets, microchips, and administrative overhead.

“Innocent citizens must now take leave and queue up at immigration counters to fix a mistake they did not commit,” he said.

Zakaria yesterday announced that immigration had suspended the validity of affected passports pending resolution of the issue with airlines and ICAO.

The department will also stop carrying forward unused validity for 10-year passports, while retaining the provision for five-year passports. Affected holders will be prioritised for free replacements.

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