Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud announced that the STO for all passport issuance offices outside the Klang Valley would be abolished from May 9, and those in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor Bahru, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka from May 16.

“Those who have received an appointment date through STO from May 16 no longer need to follow the given date,” he said in a statement today.

Khairul also announced that all passport issuance offices in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Johor Bahru, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka would operate every Saturday from 8am to 1pm beginning May 14.

Apart from that, the operating hours of immigration counters at the Urban Transformation Centres in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor Bahru would be extended to 10pm starting May 16.

Khairul said the difficulties faced by Malaysians were due to the sharp increase in passport applications and renewals following the reopening of the country’s borders from April 1, causing the online system to be congested.

He said 151,173 passports were issued nationwide from April 1 to 26.

On average, he said 8,000 passport applications were received daily, an increase of about 40% compared to before the reopening of borders.

Khairul said new applicants, senior citizens, people with disabilities, students, children and applicants performing the haj can go straight away to the counter in Putrajaya.

“However, for renewal applications, the Putrajaya passport office will only process applications made online and those who have received notification via email,” he said.