Malaysia officially launched its new International Malaysian Passport today at the Parliament lobby, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presiding over the event [1, 2]. The government will start issuing the new passports from July 1 in 14 passport offices nationwide as part of a phased rollout scheduled to complete by August across all 71 offices [1, 3, 2].
The new passports offer Malaysians aged 18 and above the choice between a 5-year validity passport priced at RM200 and a 10-year passport costing RM350, designed to save RM50 compared to renewing two 5-year passports over a decade [1, 3, 2]. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said, "Hopefully, this initiative not only eases public transactions but also further strengthens the standing of the Malaysian passport as a trusted and respected travel document on the international stage" [3].
The upgraded passport features 94 security elements, nearly double the 49 found in the current version. These enhancements include holograms, ultraviolet printing, latent images, guilloche patterns, and forensic security measures to deter forgery [1, 3, 2]. The design replaces the hibiscus motif with the Rajah Brooke's Birdwing butterfly, symbolizing Malaysia's biodiversity and heritage [2].
The new passport complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and is produced using new-generation printing machines capable of producing up to 60 passports per hour, ensuring efficiency amid monthly demand of approximately 160,000 passports [1, 2].
Authorities have advised Malaysians not to rush to replace existing passports, which remain valid until their expiration dates [3, 2]. The government aims to smoothly transition to the new system while gradually expanding availability to all passport offices by August [1, 3, 2].
