He asked why passport holders have to wait for a long time before they were replaced with a new passport. From his knowledge, the new passport possess high technology computer chip which could not be modified by sydicates.

Tiong said although the Immigration Department or the Home Affair Ministry can issue emergency passports for those who intend to go oversea but this is not very practical for the business community as they always go for business trip and it would be very troublesome for them to go the Immigration Department to get the emergency passports.

He said we should think of the problems seriously as some of them 
are the major tax payers. Whereas for the low income group, this also worried them as they have to spent a lot of money and time to go to the Department concerned.

Tiong expressed his worry as if the Immigration Department did not handled this matter seriouly, it would jeapordise the good image of the governemnt for not carrying out their duties in a more efficient and professional ways.

On the administration of the department, Tiong also suggested that an hospitality course should be conducted for the staff of the Immigration Department so that they understand ways of dealing with the public.

He told the House that all the staff members of the department are waving a slogan "Service With A Smile" but it is regret to understand that staff and officers of the department are not so friendly when dealing with the public.

The MP for Kota Melaka has also raised the same quesiton on the problem of replacement passport that was reported lost.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affair, Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawai when replying the above question clarified that the delay in issuing passport to replace the one reported lost for one to five years was a lesson for the holders so that members of the public is more responsible to safe keep their passports and travelling documents.

In fact, he said after this rule was imposed, the Immigration Departemnt now has less problems on the lost of passports. 
Dato' Seri Abdullah further clarified that for replacing passports that was genuine lost in theft, the delay to replace new one is one year and for lossing the second time within five years, replacement will be delayed for 3 years and for lossing the 3rd time and sub-sequence within five years, the issuing of 
new passport will be delayed for five years.

Even with such ruling, he added that there are people who lost their passports for two or three times. For that, we are forced to give him some difficulty in getting the replacement because the holders is not so much bother and take it easy on the travelling documents, seem not so important to him at all, he added.
However, the Home Affair Minister said the Immigration Department still kindly consider by issuing replacement passport without imposing the rule of delay if it was proven that the applicants really need a passport for going oversea like further their studies.