Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail
MIRI: A Sarawak assistant minister hopes that the federal government would review the directive for the Immigration Department office in Limbang to close during the weekends, effective Jan 22.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail believes that this directive would cause problems and difficulties to public, many of whom have time constraints during the working weekdays, especially Malaysians working in Brunei.
“It would also be an impediment to the locals in urgent need to make passports, such as patients who are being referred to Miri Hospital for emergency treatment.
“As such, we urge the Immigration Department and federal government to reconsider this decision and revert to what was being practised before,” said Dr Abdul Rahman, who is Bukit Kota state assemblyman, in a statement issued in response to this issue, which would affect the people in Limbang and Lawas.
On Thursday, Immigration Department Sarawak director Ken Leben confirmed the circular about the directive, when contacted by The Borneo Post.
He said the directive would only apply to the Limbang office, which had been handling travel document applications on Saturdays and Sundays all this while.
It is understood that no other Immigration Department offices throughout Sarawak is open during weekends – except those at Urban Transformation Centres (UTC) where opening hours have all been revised to 8am – 5pm, instead of the closing time at 10pm previously.