Its director-general, Khairul Dzaimee Daud, said the department and the customs authorities would station eight officers at the high commission from next week to ease the passport documentation process there.

“Currently, we have five personnel there. Eight more officers, including those from (customs) will be sent to help them,” he told reporters after an enforcement operation at Jalan Imbi here early this morning.

Khairul Dzaimee said the congestion had been caused by a technical glitch and damage to one of the passport printers there.

He also attributed the problem to a sharp rise in the number of walk-in passport applicants.

“We have advised them (Malaysians in Singapore) to renew their passport online but they still opt to walk in. We give priority to those who want to renew their work permits as they cannot leave Singapore.

“Online passport applications will be processed and printed within four to five weeks,” he said.

Yesterday, Khairul Dzaimee had said his department was waiting for approval from the Singapore foreign ministry to allow staff of Datasonic Berhad to enter the country to carry out repair work.