PUTRAJAYA: Since the online passport renewal system was introduced on Sept 1, more than 900 Malaysians have utilised the application.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the department will continue to promote and encourage applicants to make full use of the online system.

"When the online system was introduced, there were some glitches at the beginning, as it was still new. But we managed to resolve all issues promptly.

"Now, applicants can renew their passports in less than 10 minutes.

"However, those who want to apply for an altogether new passport will have to go to the immigration offices, as concerns over security are involved," he said after the handing over of medical supplies from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) here today.

Since the introduction of the online application, Mustafar said the department has been able to reduce congestion at the counters.

"Passport shortage issues have also been resolved, as the vendors have kept their promises to supply sufficient passports.

"We have instructed suppliers to produce 90,000 passports weekly, and this has been done since the second week of Aug," he said.

On another matter, Mustafar asserted that the department will proceed with its plan to freeze assets and accounts of employers who hire and protect illegal foreign workers starting October.

He said the move was not made arbitrarily, as it was done in accordance with the existing law and regulations.

"We will continue our engagement with employers to explain why and how the freezing of assets will be implemented.

"This enforcement action is in accordance with the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001," he said.

At the ICRC event, Mustafar handed over medical equipment in support of health services to six immigration detention centres in Bukit Jalil, Lenggeng, Semenyih, Langkap, Machap Umboo and Belantik.

The items included cylinder oxygen tanks, oxygen masks, nebulisers, disposable nebuliser masks, digital blood pressure monitors, infra-red body thermometers and digital scales.

The medical supplies were provided to assist depot officers in treating ill detainees and to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.