Wednesday October 17, 2012

Ministry to issue better quality passports

THE Home Ministry will issue better quality passports that will have a page containing all the information on the carrier in polycarbonate starting next year.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said the move was taken after facing technical problems when issuing passport using old machines.

“We realised that many of our machines are over five years old and this had affected the process of issuing passports,” he said when winding up the Budget speech for his ministry yesterday.

He said the use of polycarbonate for the biodata page had been adopted in many other countries.

Meanwhile, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has asked Pakatan Rakyat not to politicise water and electricity issues.

“Water and electricity are utilities that we use for our daily needs. The country will face problems if they are politicised,” he said in his winding-up speech on the Budget.

Chin also urged the Selangor Government to agree to the Langat 2 water treatment plant.

“They (Selangor Government) just have to approve it. They do not need to fork out a single sen for it,” he said.

On electricity issues, Chin said the problems with the change in meters were being looked into, adding that those who had complaints should contact the ministry immediately.

Chin also apologised to the people in Sabah for the frequent power outages and said works were underway to help resolve the problem by December.

In an unrelated development, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk S.K. Devamany has asked Pakatan leaders to stop misleading the people on the RM60bil Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) for political mileage.

“The project will bring benefit to the country and those living in the nearby areas.

“Those affected will be compensated and the Government is looking into their welfare,” he said at Parliament lobby.

News

Wednesday October 17, 2012

Ministry to issue better quality passports