MALAYSIANS in Singapore have complained about the long lines at the Malaysian High Commission in the city state, the Straits Times reported.

Hundreds of Malaysians residing in the country were seen queuing outside the High Commission as they waited to renew their passports.

The report noted that many elderly and wheelchair-bound folk waited for hours in the sun to have their documents renewed.

Malaysians told the Straits Times long lines at the High Commission have been a persistent problem during the  coronavirus outbreak.

They said the school holidays from March 13 to 21 have worsened the situation.  Many of them were told that due to technical issues the High Commission could process only a limited number of applications daily.

Acting High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore Muhammad Radzi Jamaludin declined to comment when contacted by ST.

According the High Commission’s Facebook page, walk-in applications for passport renewals resumed in December.

They were suspended in March 30 last year due to Covid-19 and Malaysians were told to apply online to renew their travel documents.

The consulate said in December that due to social distancing measures, it would only process urgent cases of passports or passes nearing expiry.

Permanent resident Tommy Yap, 47, told the paper his 10-year-old boy’s passport expired in December and his wife went to the consulate with their son at 7am – an hour before to doors opened – one day in January

There was already a queue of more than 200 people at the gate

He said they could not apply online as children and seniors are required to walk in, so they decided to wait for the March school holidays to try again.

“A lot of people told us that people would start queueing at midnight,” he was quoted as saying. – March 19, 2021.