June 1 rollout of new Malaysian passport postponed

File photo for illustration purposes only. Photo: The Official Portal of Sarawak Government

By DayakDaily Team

PETALING JAYA, May 26: Malaysia’s planned launch of its new high-security passport has been postponed just days before its scheduled rollout on June 1, as the Immigration Department moves to ensure smoother service delivery for the public.

In a news report by Free Malaysia Today, immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the decision is temporary, and a new implementation date will be announced later.

He assured that Malaysians will not be affected by the delay and can continue to use and renew their passports as usual.

“All current passports remain valid until their expiry date,” Zakaria said in a statement today.

The new passport was previously set to be introduced in stages starting June 1 at selected locations, including the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya, the Kuala Lumpur passport office in Jalan Duta, the Wangsa Maju Urban Transformation Centre, and the Shah Alam Immigration Office.

It was later planned for wider rollout nationwide by July, following the initial phase.

The upgraded passport features 94 security elements, nearly double the current 49, with enhancements such as advanced holograms, ultraviolet printing, hidden security features and improved anti-forgery technology.

The improvements are designed to strengthen document security and make the passport harder to counterfeit.

The Immigration Department had earlier announced the new passport as part of efforts to enhance Malaysia’s travel document security and align with international standards, before the rollout was postponed. — DayakDaily