LIMBANG: The fees for the restricted passport to Brunei for the people of Sabah and Sarawak will be reduced from RM150 to RM50 for five-year periods effective May 1.
Announcing this here today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said besides the reduction, from Aug 1, Malaysia and Brunei would also embark on a pioneer project, the Frequent Travellers Facility (FTF), which would be implemented in Sungai Tujoh in Miri, Tedungan and Pandaruan di Limbang.
“When the FTF is implemented, travellers will only need to endorse their restricted passports once every 30 days compared to each time they enter and exit these border points now,” he said when opening the RM37.7-million Tedungan Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex here today.
“This means that not only the process of entering and exiting Brunei will be faster, travellers also need not renew their passports frequently,” he said.
And in recognition of the excellent service provided by Immigration personnel throughout the country, Najib also announced that the 10,400 officers and rank and file personnel in the department would be entitled to free passports.
“This is part of the initiatives taken by the government to show its appreciation for the good work provided by the Immigration Department,” he said.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who was also present, said construction of the Tedungan ICQS started in 2006 and was fully completed in 2009.
“In 2010, 2,097,796 people passed through this complex,” he said, adding that it was one of the projects under the 9th Malaysia Plan for Sarawak.
He added that besides the Tedungan complex, similar complexes were built in Pandaruan in Limbang, Sungai Tujoh in Miri and Biawak di Lundu. – Bernama