Over 200 People Queued More than 5 Hours to Get Their Passport Renewed at the Malaysian High Commission

At the moment, our passports are about as useful as a Robinsons’ voucher.

With borders all the over the world shut to visitors, leisure travel has become nothing more than a distant dream.

Now, most of the travelling we do is from our rooms to the fridge and back.

For those who are permitted to travel, such as for business, they have to make sure that their passports remain valid, which could include renewing them.

This sounds like a simple task, but just like parties and eating out, COVID-19 has complicated things a little.

Over 200 People Queued More than 5 Hours to Get Their Passport Renewed at the Malaysian High Commission

If you thought crowds outside Foot Locker were bad, you’ve probably not been to the Malaysian High Commission lately.

According to The Straits Times, hundreds of people lined up at the High Commission of Malaysia on Tuesday (16 March).

Unfortunately, the High Commission has a daily limit of 30 walk-in applicants.

This means that some residents, like Madam Lim who queued for five hours from 6.45am, had to be turned away.

This sounds awful, but it’s what many Malaysians here have been experiencing throughout the pandemic.

Back in March last year, the High Commission stopped all walk-in applications for passport renewals. Malaysians instead had to apply online and wait for an appointment date to collect their passports.

This, presumably, was to prevent crowds from forming and facilitate safe distancing.

While they finally resumed walk-in applications last December, the High Commission said it would only process urgent cases, where passports or long-term passes had less than three months’ validity.

Still Have to Wait For Borders to Reopen

Even if these Malaysians manage to renew their passports, they still have to wait for Johor’s borders to reopen.

And that could take some time.

With Malaysia’s COVID-19 mass vaccination drive underway, Johor’s chief minister said earlier this month that he hopes negotiations on travel arrangements between Singapore and Malaysia will resume.

“Opening of borders, the green travel bubble, all other arrangements should be considered upon completion of vaccination,” he said.

While we’re dreaming of tasty Johorian food and cheap shopping, the border reopening would finally end the mental anguish for families separated since Malaysia imposed its Movement Control Order in March last year.

On 1 Feb this year, Singapore suspended reciprocal green lane (RGL) arrangements with Malaysia, Germany, and South Korea for three months.

Now, only Malaysia citizens who are PRs working in Singapore can travel back to their home country under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) scheme.

Under the scheme, Malaysian workers in Singapore can apply for short-term leave after working in Singapore for at least 90 consecutive days.

Featured Image: Facebook (High Commission of Malaysia, Singapore)