Posted under My Thoughts
Well, you know how frustrating and difficult it is for the first time, you want to get it right and prevent mistakes. You don’t know what you need, what you have to do, what you need to bring, where to do it and stuff like that. I was suppose to apply for my passport in Putrajaya, but luckily my colleague who went there because of me called me to tell me that the Immigration Department in Putrajaya does not have this service of applying or renewing passport, except for diplomats and for major problems where all other immigration offices refuses to take care of. I’m really sorry Chin, for making you go all the way there for nothing and end up with me in Subang Airport Terminal 3.
I just don’t understand, from what I know, the Putrajaya Immigration department is one of the biggest as it is the headquarters and the crowd there is like near to none. Why is it only restricted to problematic passports and so called VIPs. Isn’t it better to have people applying for passport there rather than have them swat flies? I just don’t understand why we have to have big buildings with the latest technology but to serve no purpose. I may be wrong but I do not think there will be thousands of VIPs applying or renewing of people having problems with their passports. It’s just a big waste. Very annoying to say the least and as someone told me today, very disappointing altogether.
I had to resort to changing my direction to Subang Terminal 3 to apply for my passport. I reached there at about 0730 as it was a miracle that federal highway was smooth like silk. Can you imagine there was no jam in the morning in federal highway! If I gamble, I’m sure I’ll hit the lottery one. So as advised by the elderly, went there to take photos for the passport as if you take yourself the chances of it getting rejected is very high, so I did not want to take the risk and waste my money in this state of economy. So I got my number at around 0815 and it started of very slow. The numbers were like jumping 2 or 3 number in 20 or 30 minutes, even my turtles seem to go faster at that moment. After a while it boosted up and I was handing in my documents to the officer within the next 45 minutes. So I thought it would be smooth from there as the next step would be to make payment and then off I go back… but nooooooooo, they had to make people angry. You know the number you took when submitting the documents, you use back the number for payment. The stupid person just had to do all this and that business and left the place unmanned. So I guess my paper was in but then the new ones just went on top of it. Isn’t it stupid! The new ones should go below and they put it on top. So all the later ones got to pay first and I had to wait. What does it spell for them, STUPID and NOT SYSTEMATIC AT ALL! It’s just plain idiotic and I guess even idiots know the first in first out rules. So I had to wait another 45 to 60 minutes just to pay because of their stupidity.
I do not mean to degrade but it is common sense, and this gets on peoples nerves. I was actually about to ask for the supervisor and my number were buzzed. I know from word of mouth that the improvement from yesteryears was incredible, but then what good are those if these small little things are forsaken. I do hope the improvement will continue but do have a better system for transferring from submission of documents to payment. And if the number of applicants are increasing, why not increase another payment counter rather than having one. I heard smaller branches with less submission counters have at least 2 payment counters.
This was definitely not a pleasant first time, but then again, I know improvement takes time and I do wish there will be improvement to avoid all these problems. While I am at it for those who have not experienced their first time here are some stuff to take note.
Things you need to apply for a passport
1. The application form
2. 1 x photocopy of birth certificate
3. 1 x photocopy of My Kad
4. 2 x photograph (best taken at the branch to ensure acceptance)
5. RM 300 (cash only)
What do you think should be improved?
Why can’t we just make appointment and bring all the necessary documents rather than having applicants fighting to queue every morning?
What can we do to improve it?
What can we do…?
