MELBOURNE, THURS:    Malaysians in Australia want the immigration authorities in Kuala Lumpur to rethink a new policy requiring them to go to the high commission in Canberra, to renew their passports and register a child’s birth.

They say the new procedure that came into effect on Jan 1, is causing anxiety and hardship because of the considerable cost and time needed to make the trips to Canberra.

Malaysians in Darwin would have to fly about six hours to get to Canberra, via Melbourne or Sydney.

The return airfare could be up to A$850 (A$1 = RM2.85) depending on the travel season. Accommodation (one night), food, taxi fare and other expenses could easily amount to about A$400 for a grand total of A$1,250.

“Just imagine what the cost would be for a couple with two or more children. And they would have to take time off from work and studies,” said a Malaysian expatriate who declined to be identified.

In the past, Malaysians Down Under needed just to fill in the relevant immigration forms, get them countersigned by a consulate official or a justice of peace and send them by registered mail to Canberra, along with the renewal fee and a self-addressed return paid envelope.

Although the new policy was posted on the Malaysian High Commission website some weeks ago, few were aware of it.

Take the case of Wendy Ng in Tasmania. She has just graduated with a law degree and is desperately keen to spend Chinese New Year with her family in Klang.

“I needed to renew my Malaysian passport and when I telephoned the high commission in Canberra to check what the fee was to renew my passport, I was shocked when told I had to go personally to Canberra,” she told Bernama.

“The return fare, accommodation and taxis will cost at least A$1,000.

From Hobart, I would need to fly to Canberra, via Melbourne. What if there is a computer problem at the high commission? I will need to spend more nights there.

“I’m still a student. I’m jobless. I do not have that kind money to spend to fly to Canberra.

“I plead with the Malaysian authorities to do something about this so that I, and many others caught in this unforeseen situation, can celebrate the Chinese New Year with our families whom we have not seen for several years,” she said.

A Malaysian in Adelaide said he heard about the new policy and rushed to the Malaysian Consulate in Adelaide where passport applications and other documents could be lodged, to be sent to Canberra as in the past.

However, he was too late. The consulate refused to handle his documents.

“I wanted to renew my son’s passport...(But) now, I have to accompany him to Canberra because he is too young to travel alone.

“This will set me back by at least A$2,000,” said the man who did not want to be named.

Then, there is also the case of an accountant in South Australia who is married to a Sabahan who is very weak and scared to travel alone. As she wants to visit her parents in Kota Kinabalu, she needs to renew her passport.

So, husband and wife will have to travel to Canberra at considerable cost.

The newly-appointed Malaysian immigration attache in Canberra, Nor Azura Yusof said she was aware of the problems faced by Malaysians with regard to the high travel and accommodation costs, and the vast distances they had to travel under the new policy.

“I sympathise with them, but I have to follow the new procedure and I cannot break the rules,” she said, adding that she would propose that a mobile unit be established to visit the various state capitals in Australia for immigration work.

“This has to be approved by the immigration authorities in Kuala Lumpur and I have no idea how long this will take,” she said.

High Commissioner, Datuk Salim Hashim, wants the mobile unit to be expedited to lessen the burden of Malaysians.

Last year, the high commission processed 3,177 passports with a total fee collection of A$331,611 (RM873,940).

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/NewsBreak/20080124160131/Article