TWO years ago, I attended a cousin’s wedding in Singapore after having just got my new international passport. The passport unfortunately got wet in the rain, but still looked to be in good shape apart from some watermarks.

I decided, however, to check with the immigration office in Malacca all the same. They took my passport and told me to wait for a month

before they could tell me whether the passport was still useable. After a month, I received a letter telling me that I had to pay another RM300 for a new passport that would be valid for only two years.

The punishment was too harsh. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have gone to the immi-gration office. My uncle, whose passport had also gotten wet, its condition worse than mine, was able to use it to travel to Singapore and Indonesia.

Two years ago I wrote as a Form 6 student and now I write as an undergraduate. I need the passport to continue my education or to work overseas. I feel that I have been victimised as a passport that cost me RM300 was used only once.

For three years I have been punished. Being an undergraduate at a local university and not working, I hope the Immigration Department will now issue me a passport for five years. I have written to the Immigration Department and “warkahuntukpm” but have had no response.

Disappointed
via email

Source: The Sun – July 21, 2008