Malaysia International Passport Model J : ICAO Biometric ePassport 2016 — 2017


Despite having made an announcement of issuing a new passport format to take place on the 9 May, it was not until 16 May 2016 when the Immigration Department of Malaysia officially started issuing the document featuring the new polycarbonate data page with embedded chip provided by Datasonic Group Bhd. Chips were supplied by Trüb AG from Switzerland which is now part of Gemalto.

The polycarbonate is likely using Gemalto Datapage Sealys Datapage 800e (800 micrometres), which is a datapage with an integrated microprocessor module. The datapage is being attached to the booklet using Gemalto Sealys Hinge which is durable and made of woven fabric and securely integrated into the polycarbonate body. It is irreversibly and securely attached to the datapage and booklet. Gemalto Hinge is highly robust and flexible; the booklet stays open and closes completely.

Iris Corp’s contract for the smart chips ends sometime in the middle of 2016 [1] but PKNSB contract received a six-month extension to supply two million passport booklets and chips from 1 June 2016 until 30 November 2016.[2] During the extension period, Datasonic has had an agreement with PKN to be their subcontractor to supply data chips from 29 July 2016.[3] However, during a contingency issue with issuing the passport by the immigration department, Datasonic has been supplying Datacard with an embedded chip from April until July 2016.[4]

Based on a new contract, Datasonic will be providing chips with booklets for Malaysian International Passport beginning 1 December 2016 and will continue doing so until 30 November 2021.[2]
 

Kuala Lumpur Scene by Night

The new polycarbonate datapage features a variety of built-in security elements including the groundbreaking and exciting true-colour UV security elements based on innovative Sealys True Vision solution. It offers high-resolution UV images with high brilliance and outstanding colour reproduction such as the spectacular skyline of Kuala Lumpur on page 1. Other pages are also bursting into life upon being exposed to UV light showing the neon night view effect.[5]

Sealys True Vision is a design and security element for polycarbonate documents. Engineered in Switzerland by Trüb, Sealys True Vision implements images invisible under normal daylight that turn into brilliant true-colour images with excellent colour reproduction at under 365 nm UV exposure. The high-resolution images comprise UV fluorescent inks with advanced colour separation and half-tone printing.
 


ICAO DOC 9303 GENERATION 2

The ICAO has recommended for ePassports worldwide and the European Union (EU) has decided to enforce ePassports within the EU the use of SAC mechanism for all travel documents issued as of December 2014.

Malaysia however is still using second-generation ICAO ePassport which utilizes EAC for data access control.

Extended Access Control (EAC) is a set of advanced security features for electronic passports that protects and restricts access to sensitive personal data contained in the RFID chip. In contrast to common personal data (like the bearer’s photograph, names, date of birth, etc.) which can be protected by basic mechanisms, more sensitive data (like fingerprints) must be protected further for preventing unauthorized access and skimming. A chip protected by EAC will allow that this sensitive data is read (through an encrypted channel) only by an authorized passport inspection system.

ISSUANCE, FEE & VALIDITY 

Malaysia International Passports with a chip embedded in the polycarbonate datapage can be issued within one hour of received payment. Applicants are no longer required to bring in personal photos as they are being taken digitally at the Passport Division counter using Facial Live Capture Recognition Device. All photographs must now show neutral facial expression.

After having MyONLINE*PASPORT system disabled in April 2013, Immigration Department is allowing from 1 September 2016 for applications to be submitted online and applicants will need to upload photos that meet the requirements set by the department. However, the applicants must already have an ePassport issued after April 2013 and fingerprints are in the immigration's record. However, collections can only be made at certain offices which applicants must choose during online applications.

Documents issued from 15 January 2015 are using fee structure from the table below and fixed validity of 5 years non-renewable.
 
GROUP FEE (RM)
Disabled Gratis
► Senior citizens (60 and above)
► Children below 12
► Haj pilgrims with proof from Tabung Haji or authorised agency
► Students below 21 with proof of studying abroad for a degree program
100.00
Normal applicants (13 to 59-year-old) 200.00
 


PHYSICAL STRUCTURES
 
Predominant Colour Cover: Red
Pages: Pink and vanilla
Watermark Coat-of-arms of the Federation of Malaysia
Perforations On top of interior pages using a laser.
From page 3 to page 48.
Dimension ISO/IEC 7810 or ID-3 or B7
ICAO Standard Passport Booklet Size
88 × 125 mm
Total of Pages 50
 
PAGE DESCRIPTION
Front Cover
Country's Name
MALAYSIA


Coat-of-Arms of
the Federation of Malaysia

Document's Name
PASSPORT
PASPORT



ICAO ePassport Symbol
Front Cover - Interior Side Diplomatic Request Page
Page 1 Document's & Country's Name
PASPORT MALAYSIA
MALAYSIA PASSPORT


Travel Restriction
Total Page in the Booklet
Page 2 Datapage with Embedded Chip
Page 3 Observation
Document's Number (Barcode)
Holder's Signature
Page 4 until Page 49 Visas
Page 50 Notes & Regulations
Back Cover - Interior Side Notes Regarding Document Handling

The cover was printed using the gold foil debossing technique where the print is pressed into the material to leave a permanent cavity.

The adjectival form used on page 1 is somehow vague as the country adjective for Malaysia is Malaysian, therefore in English, it should have been written as MALAYSIAN PASSPORT.

Document's number which was repeated as either using laser perforation or printed as a barcode is of eight digits without the prefix of holder's residency status alphabet within the Federation of Malaysia. A is for a resident of the peninsular (known as Malaya or the Malay States), K is for Sarawak and H is for Sabah. But, the barcode on page three is only with numbers without the residency prefix.



Upon renewal, additional observations regarding previous passport information will be printed on page 49.

Landmarks and monuments in Malaysia are printed as background on visa pages, alternately.
 
LANDMARK PAGE
Parliament Building Front Cover (Interior)
Putrajaya Administrative Centre 3
Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) 4, 12, 20, 32, 40, 48
Kuala Lumpur Tower 5, 13, 21, 33, 41, 49
National Monument 6-7, 14-15, 22-23, 30-31, 38-39, 46-47
National Museum 8, 16, 24, 28, 36, 44
Sultan Abdul Samad Building 9, 17, 25, 29, 37, 45
Putrajaya Administrative Centre 10-11, 18-19, 26-27, 34-35, 42-43
National Palace Back Cover (Interior)

Putrajaya Administrative Centre (except for page 3) and National Monument are spreading across two pages.

LANGUAGES

The document was printed in Malay and English on the front cover, the interior side of the front cover, page 1, page 2, page 3, page 50 and the interior side of the back cover.

LASER PERFORATION

Visa pages were laser perforated with the passport number only in numeric digits and without residency prefix. Laser perforation produces no ridges and creates a conical effect in which the holes that make up each of the eight digits decrease in diameter, with the largest holes on page one and the smallest holes in the back of the book.

DIPLOMATIC REQUEST
 
Bahawasanya atas nama Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Malaysia, diminta semua yang berkaitan supaya membenarkan pembawa pasport ini melalui negara berkenaan dengan bebas tanpa halangan atau sekatan dan memberikan sebarang pertolongan dan perlindungan yang perlu kepadanya.

This is to request and require in the Name of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, all whom it may concern to allow the bearer of this passport to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.

PERMITTED COUNTRIES / TRAVEL RESTRICTION

On page 1,
 
Passport ini sah digunakan untuk semua negara kecuali Israel

This passport is valid for all countries except Israel

The real reason that the document is invalid for visiting Israel is that there are no diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Israel. Malaysia is one of 36 countries that do not recognize the statehood of Israel.



NOTES & REGULATIONS
 
PERHATIAN

1. Pasport ini dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia atau Pejabat Perwakilan Malaysia di luar negara.

2. Pasport ini ialah 'Hak Milik Kerajaan Malaysia' dan boleh ditarik balik pada bila-bila masa. Pasport ini tidak boleh dipinda atau dipindah milik kepada orang lain.

3. Tempoh sahlaku pasport hendaklah tidak kurang daripada 6 bulan sebelum pemegangnya membuat perjalanan ke luar negara.

4. Pemegang pasport mesti mematuhi undang-undang dan peraturan-peraturan negara yang dilawatinya.

5. Warganegara Malaysia yang menetap di luar negara hendaklah mendaftarkan diri di Pejabat Perwakilan Malaysia berkenaan.

6. Warganegara Malaysia yang memperoleh atau menggunakan hak kewarganegaraan negara lain boleh menyebabkan taraf kewarganegaraan Malaysia dilucutkan.

7. Gambar pemegang pasport hendaklah diganti sekiranya berlaku perubahan wajah yang ketara.
 
NOTE

1. This passport is issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia or Malaysian Mission Office.

2. This passport is the property of the Government of Malaysia and may be withdrawn at any time. This passport shall not be amended and is not transferable or given to any other party.

3. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months before the holder performs any journey abroad.

4. The holder of this passport shall oblige and submit to the laws and regulations of the respective countries.

5. Malaysians residing abroad should register with the respective Malaysian Mission Office.

6. A Malaysian who has acquired citizenship of other country or exercises any rights of a citizen under the law of that country may cause his/her Malaysian citizenship be revoked.

7. The holder’s photograph should be replaced if the holder’s appearance and features have visibly changed.

DOCUMENT'S HANDLING
 
Pasport ini mengandungi alat elektronik yang sensitif. Jangan Iipat, tebuk atau dedahkan pada suhu yang terlampau/ekstrem.

This passport contains a sensitive electronic device. Do not bend, perforate or expose to extreme temperatures.
 


 

Footnotes

  1. ^ Lee, Esther, (2015, Oct 30), New contracts in the offing for Datasonic? The Edge Weekly. Available at http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/new-contracts-offing-datasonic
  2. a, b _, (2016, Aug 4), No quality issues with chips, says Datasonic. The Sun Daily. Available at http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1924209
  3. ^ _, (2016, Aug 3), Datasonic to be the new subcontractor for PKN. The Star. Available at http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2016/08/03/datasonic-to-be-the-new-subcontractor-for-pkn/
  4. ^ _, (2016, Aug 3), Datasonic says not the current supplier of passport booklets and chips. BorneoPost Online. Available at http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/08/03/datasonic-says-not-the-current-supplier-of-passport-booklets-and-chips/
  5. ^ _, (), Sealys Passport Datapage. Available at http://www.gemalto.com/brochures-site/download-site/Documents/gov-sealys-passport-datapage.pdf