BAYAN LEPAS, Nov 9 ― Members of the public whose passports were damaged or lost in the severe floods in the state recently could apply for replacement passports for free at the nearest Immigration offices in Penang before Dec 31.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the replacement passport application only covered passports that were damaged or lost due to the flood and were still valid.

"The affected flood victims have to immediately lodge a police report before they can submit an application at the Immigration offices and to bring along proof or evidence that the lost or damaged passports are due to natural disaster and not negligence,” he told reporters after the department’s Caring, Welfare Mission and Post Flood Relief programme here today.

He said the immigration department’s quarters comprised 40 units that housed 70 families who were also badly affected by the flood and estimated losses incurred amounted to RM400,000.

Meanwhile, one of the Immigration Department personnel affected by the flood, Rohana Ibrahim, 39, said this was the first time that her unit at the quarters was inundated by flood waters that left most of her furniture badly damaged. ― Bernama