Do You Really Have To Wait For 6 Months To Get A New Passport?

Malaysians have been rushing to make new passports after several local media reported that the application process would take six months due to a shortage of passport supplies

**Thousands of Malaysians have been flocking to Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) outlets and Immigration officers every day after media reports caused panic among the public, as many feared that they may not be able to obtain a new passport in time.**

In addition to claims that it may take up to six months to apply for a new passport, horror stories from people who had frequented the Immigration offices recently have been surfacing on social media.

People have [testified](http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/want-a-new-passport-better-get-in-line-before-sunrise) about how they queued up as early as 5.30am in hopes of getting a number that would allow them to obtain a new passport. There were also those who still went home empty handed despite making several visits to different Immigration offices.

Additionally, those who have turned up at the UTC outlets or Immigration offices recently were faced with disappointment upon finding out that a limit has been imposed on the application of passports

According to an official from the Immigration Department, there has been a 50% decrease in passport supply at various branches.

**"For example, if a passport office used to be supplied with 100 documents a day, now they only receive 50 passports so they have to turn many people away and ask them to return another day,"** he was quoted as saying by [theSun](http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1922514) on 2 August.

Image via MeiLan Tan

However, the Immigration Department has denied reports claiming that Malaysians may need to endure a six-month wait before they could get a new passport

This photo was posted on the Immigration Department's official Facebook page yesterday, 2 August.

Image via Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia

Mustafar, who was recently transferred from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to lead the department, has promised to resolve the issues at hand

Image via NST Online

The recent "passport shortage" has led to upset and worried Malaysians expressing their utter dissatisfaction over the matter:

The Immigration Department has come under more public scrutiny especially after the Malaysian immigration system was sabotaged by the very officers working to protect it: