Kuala lumpur: The security features of the Malaysian International Passport will continue to be enhanced periodically to ensure that the travel document, currently ranked as the third most powerful passport in the world, remains secure, difficult to forge, and compliant with international standards. Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban emphasized the importance of these upgrades, even though no cases of physical forgery have been detected so far.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zakaria explained that updating the passport's security features is crucial to prevent them from becoming known to irresponsible parties. As more people become familiar with the security measures, the risk of forgery increases. Therefore, frequent updates are necessary despite the considerable time required to produce a new passport that complies with international standards, including approval under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

Malaysia last introduced a new passport design in 2016, with minor security enhancements in 2023. The latest version of the Malaysian International Passport includes 94 security features, such as holograms, latent images, rainbow printing, ultraviolet printing, a biometric chip, and enhanced polycarbonate materials, to further strengthen the document's security. Many of these features are not detectable with the naked eye and require forensic equipment for verification.

Zakaria highlighted a noticeable improvement in the new passport: the use of a color photograph of the passport holder, replacing the previously used black-and-white photograph. The new passport continues to comply with ICAO specifications, allowing it to be read by existing passport scanners worldwide.

Holders of existing passports need not rush to replace them, as they remain valid until their expiry dates. Only those applying for a new passport or whose passports are nearing expiry need to obtain the new version. The first phase of the rollout of the new passport will begin tomorrow at 14 passport issuing offices, including the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya and various other locations. The new passport is expected to be available at all 71 Immigration offices across the country by August 4, before expanding to Malaysia's attach© offices overseas.

Malaysians now have the option of applying for a 10-year passport at a fee of RM350, alongside the existing five-year passport priced at RM200, reducing the need for frequent renewals. The Immigration Department receives an average of 180,000 to 200,000 passport applications monthly.

Zakaria addressed the passport's security record, noting that fraud cases detected so far have involved syndicates manipulating the application process to obtain genuine passports illegally, rather than physically forging passport booklets. Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail received their new passports after the Prime Minister launched the new version of the Malaysian International Passport at the Parliament lobby, attended by other dignitaries.