KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Knowing the difficulty in applying or renewing their passports, many came to the Immigration offices as early as 5.30am yesterday.

Some slept in their vehicles while others had packed food and drinks, hoping to get a number that would allow them to obtain a new passport.

At the Home Ministry Complex at 5am yesterday, the crowd began to quickly increase and by 7.30am, a long queue was formed inside the complex.

A long queue starts to form at the main gate as they wait for security personnel to allow them in.
A long queue starts to form at the main gate as they wait for security personnel to allow them in.

Undergraduate Mohd Zahid Mohd Ghani, 23, said he wore sports shoes and also brought a jacket as he was prepared to stand for hours in the chilly morning air.

“I did not get a number after coming here at 8am for two days in a row. I’m convinced I will be able to get a number today as I have been here since 5.30am,” he said.

Contractor S.W. Lim, 40, was also among the early crowd at the complex.

People are allowed in and a long line forms on the first floor where the immigration office is located.
People are allowed in and a long line forms on the first floor where the immigration office is located.

“I’ve been here since 5.30am and I have packed sandwiches and drinks as I may have to wait for several hours,” said Lim, who came from Rawang to renew his passport.

“I’m feeling feverish but I have to get my passport done today as I will be flying off to China for a business trip on Saturday.”

He said he went to the Urban Transformation Centre in Sentul twice but was unable to obtain a number.

Marketing executive Rizal Hashim, 42, said this was his fifth attempt over the past week.

“I’ve been trying to renew my passport. I’ve even gone to Seremban and Kuala Selangor to get it done but they told me the system was down. It was the same thing at UTC Sentul and at the Immigration office in Kelana Jaya.

“My wife and daughter are with me today so that we can take turns to line up.”

Many stay in line to get their numbers, hoping to get their passports on the same day.
Many stay in line to get their numbers, hoping to get their passports on the same day.

He said he was afraid if he and his family did not get their travel documents renewed in time, they would have to cancel their trip to Australia next month.

The Immigration office at Plaza Glomac in Kelana Jaya, which was scheduled to open at 7.30am, only opened its doors at 10am, with the "quota" of 250 numbers given out within an hour.

The Immigration office in Pudu Sentral was closed yesterday, with a sign on its door that read “system offline”.