BEIJING: To date, a total of 192,402 Malaysian passports have been reported as stolen or missing, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said this was according to Interpol's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database in Lyon, France.

“A total of 76 million passports have been reported stolen or missing worldwide, and Malaysian passports constitute approximately 0.25 per cent of that number," he told reporters at China World Hotel here, today.

Zahid said a total of 52,459 Malaysian passports were reported stolen or missing from January to August this year.

Zahid added that Malaysian passports are the seventh most popular in the world as its holders could travel to more than 150 countries without a visa.

However, he said, stolen or lost passports that were listed in Interpol's database would be blacklisted immediately.

“Malaysia updates its database on lost and stolen travel documents on a daily basis and this information is shared with Interpol in real time.”

Zahid said Bukit Aman also uses the SLTD to track down criminals who use stolen, lost or forged travel documents to travel from one country to another.

“We are able to track down such individuals in real time, using biometrics and facial recognition technology.”

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, who was present, said the Immigration Department and police are looking into the matter seriously.

“We don’t want these travel documents to fall into the wrong hands. These passports are either stolen by syndicates. It is also true that its holders lose their passports due to negligence.”

Fuzi added that stolen or lost Malaysian passports were worth between RM100,000 to RM250,000 each on the black market.

Zahid, however, assured the public that Malaysian passports meet stringent international safety standards.

“Our passports contain the world’s best security elements, which are accepted and recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.”

Also present were Malaysian ambassador to China Datuk Zainuddin Yahya and Ministry deputy secretary-general of security Datuk Seri Mustafa Ibrahim.