MALAYSIAN PASSPORTS SAFE

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- The Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, Friday gave
assurance that the security features in Malaysian passports are highly
sophisticated and among the best in the world.

As such, he said, the people and foreign nations need not be worried about
the document.

"Just because a passport can be issued in two hours does not mean that
security features are neglected," Syed Hamid said at a news conference here
Friday.

He said to date of the 1.2 million Malaysian passports issued last year
there were just 89 recorded cases of forgery.

He was commenting on a Malay newspaper report Thursday which quoted Foreign
Minister Dr Rais Yatim as saying that issuance of Malaysian passports in less
than two hours had caused a security risk that made it easy to forge the
documents.

Syed Hamid said such statements could cause difficulties for Malaysians
travelling abroad.

He said although the issuance system was among the best it did not mean that
attempts to forge passports did not happen.

"Such criminal activites will take place but what is important is the
preventive actions taken. Even passports of the United States, Canada and
Australia have been forged although their passports have the best security
features," he said.

Syed Hamid said to further enhance features of the Malaysian passport
efforts were being made to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO)standards.

He said that will enable the passport to be read by the 'read-all reader'
chip system.

Besides that the photographs of applicants will also be done using the 'live
capture system' at counters to ensure the authenticity of the applicant.

Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said his ministry was still studying the minimum fine
to be imposed on foreigners who overstay.

"The study on the fine is to ensure that they can pay and return to their
country," he said.
-- BERNAMA