FOLLOWING reports of a mad rush to renew passports at the Immigration Department counters at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Komtar, some members of the public have offered a few suggestions to address any shortcomings.
A check by Buletin Mutiara at the place today showed the crowd has improved to a manageable level.
Lim Joe Xuan, 33, said queueing for a long period is inconvenient for the elderly as well as pregnant women.
“There are limited chairs in UTC and I hope the authorities can address this concern.
“In fact, when I renewed my passport, I waited from 7am to 3pm. It was a long wait, and I believe it is challenging for others as well, especially the senior citizens,” she said.
Khor Sze Wei, 40, said she hoped the authorities can set up a special lane for elderly people.
“When I had my passport done at Subang Jaya Immigration office, it was a swift process and I managed to collect my passport soon after.
“I hope a clearer signage on the special lane in Penang can be put up and certain measures can also be taken to prevent queue-cutting,” she said.
Another visitor, known as Wong, hoped the online appointment for children can be done to prevent overcrowding.
“This online appointment can help reduce waiting time,” she added.
Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng told Buletin Mutiara that he had suggested a few measures to improve the situation.
“So far, from what I’ve seen, the situation has improved as the crowd is also manageable so far,” he said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis