KANGAR: The reopening of the Malaysia-Thailand border sees a sharp increase in the number of people applying for border passes in Kangar.

Members of the public waited for four to five hours to complete the process of applying for border passes at the Urban Transformation Center (UTC) in Kangar.

A spokesperson at the Kangar UTC immigration counters said members of the public were given queue numbers until 3 p.m. to apply for border passes and international passports due to the massive crowd.

A total of 195 queue numbers were issued for 127 people to apply for border passes, and 68 for international passports.

As the immigration has abolished the online appointment system, members of the public can now visit immigration counters without appointment, which is the reason for the increase in the number of visitors.

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Zheng Cheng Quan, from Padang Besar, said the immigration counters at Padang Besar were not operating, and about 40 of them had traveled from Padang Besar to Kangar to have their border passes and international passports renewed.

It took him more than four hours to complete the application.

Chief of Padang Besar immigration, customs, quarantine and security complex Abd Halim Ismail said the counters were closed for e-payment system upgrading, and would reopen once the upgrades are completed.

It has been reported that the immigration department would abolish the online appointment system and extend the operating hours at passport issuance offices and counters to solve the overcrowding problem in relation to Malaysian International Passport (PMA) application and renewal.

All passport issuance offices in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Johor Bahru, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka will operate every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning May 14.

Apart from that, the operating hours at immigration counters at UTCs in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor Bahru will be extended to 10 p.m. from May 16.

The online appointment system saw a sharp increase in passport renewal applications since the borders reopened on April 1.