Home minister Hamzah Zainudin said the disposal of passports was within the immigration department’s rules.

The immigration department was not required to send the passports to the applicants “although we acknowledge that there may be certain reasons for them not to be claimed”, he told reporters.

The immigration department had previously reported that as many as 2,600 passports renewed online were still unclaimed.

Hamzah was speaking in Batu Kurau, at the “Sahabat Kita Demi Negara” event. More than 2,000 people had been registered to act as the government’s eyes and ears, especially about issues involving national security.

He said they would be able to participate in various activities carried out by security agencies under the home ministry. Membership is open to all groups, including schoolgoing youths.