PETALING JAYA: The period for those applying for the MyTravelPass (MTP) has been extended due to increased demand, says the Immigration Department.
Its director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said that with more economic sectors opening, demand for MTPs has increased.
“The application period had to be increased to 14 days to ease processing due to the increase in demand.
“This is a direct outcome of more economic sectors reopening, bringing about a rise of business travellers,” he said in a statement on Monday (Sept 13) in response to a reader’s letter published by The Star.
Khairul also emphasised that ample notice on the MTP was given in the past.
“A press conference was held on Oct 7 last year in which it was announced that the MTP was required for those applying to leave and enter the country.
“Since then the department has regularly made reminders and announcements through social media and the press.
“From Oct 7 last year to Sept 10 this year around 356,510 applications have been received. Of that, 6,697 applications were cancelled, 208,509 approved and 127,465 rejected,” he said, adding that enforcement has led to a low number of Covid-19 cases being brought into the country.
“In August this year, recorded import cases accounted for less than 0.4% of total infections,” he said.
He reminded the public to take heed of all recent announcements and rules made by the government and to recheck procedures before planning trips overseas.
“The department is constantly taking proactive steps to improve the MTP system to ease the process for locals and foreigners alike when they apply for permission to travel to and from the country,” he said.
On Monday, a reader, in a letter published by The Star titled “Travel pass causing delays“, claimed that many travellers were not aware of the MTP requirements.
It added that travellers were forced to reschedule trips when they were prevented from travelling on the day of departure due to not knowing of the MTP requirements, as well as other gripes with the application period.
