Kuala lumpur: Only two airlines have been reported to experience system issues when processing Malaysian passports with a validity period exceeding 10 years, according to Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zakaria clarified that the issue is not due to foreign countries refusing Malaysian passports, but rather stems from systems used by specific airlines. "So far, the feedback we have received is that only two airlines are experiencing problems. But I am not sure if there are others that we have yet to receive information about," he stated during a press conference.

Zakaria emphasized that the Immigration Department is not blaming the airlines, as the systems in question are used globally, and other airlines have reported no issues processing Malaysian passports with validity periods beyond 10 years. The 10-year validity period for Malaysian International Passports remains unchanged. It is only the additional validity period exceeding 10 years that has been temporarily suspended due to these system issues.

He explained that an additional validity period of up to six months had been previously granted to applicants who had more than six months remaining on their old passports when renewing. "What we have suspended is the additional validity period exceeding 10 years. (Before this,) we took into account the remaining validity on their old passports before they were replaced. So, to avoid disadvantaging Malaysians who still had a substantial period remaining, we gave them an extra six months," Zakaria noted.

The Immigration Department is offering a free replacement for passports already issued with a validity period of 10 years and six months. Following a statement yesterday, the department confirmed that, with immediate effect, the validity period of Malaysian International Passports exceeding 10 years has been suspended until the issue is resolved with the airlines and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).