But don't forget to bring the following
1. 2 photos taken in Broadway or any photoshop for the purpose of making passports.
2. 1 photocopy of your ID (both sides) - Bormas is just opposite this Yu Lan Plaza.
3. Three hundred Malaysian ringgit.
4. Old passport.
5. ID.
6. A good sense of humour and a good dose of sympathy.
Moral of this story
Always be early in a government office and be smart looking. Wear your name tag if you have one.
Dialogue in English/Bahasa Malaysia: Lesson on how to keep your Malaysian citizen's smile on.....and usage of one or two syllable words.
First Day (Tuesday) Form Counter
Nearly Four. Time to close shop....
Malaysian : Good afternoon. Is this where I get a number? Ada ambil nombor kah?
Passport Officer One : Bukan sini. Sana.
Malaysian : Good afternoon. Is this where I get a number?
Passport Officer Two : Isi form. Isi form. Pandai baca ?
Malaysian : Ok. Thanks. Terima kasih. (take form from counter)
Passort Officer Two : Sekarang tak boleh baya. Kaunter tutup. Cannot pay today. Four O'clock. Bayar esok.
Malaysian : Really ???????? But it is not four yet!!!
Passport Officer : Four lah. Counter close. Tutup!! Bawa form ini esok...
Malaysian : ????
Next day (Wednesday) Payment counter @7:30 a.m. Ah Moi - first on the queue
Malaysian : Good morning.
Cheerful Passport Officer 4 : Three hundred.
Malaysian : Can pay make passport with more pages?
Cheerful Passport Officer 4: Biasa Three hundred. cukup.
Malaysian : ok...ok..
Cheerful Passport Officer 4 : gambar. tiga ratus.form ok. tunggu eh...24 jam balik sini ambil kaunter sana. jangan hilang resit ini.
Malaysian : boleh hari ini?
Cheerful Passport Officer 4 : Next.
Malaysian : terima kasih. terima kasih..
Next day (Thursday) Collection of Passport Counter @ 7:30 a.m. A small crowd of expectant new passport holders.
Malaysian : Selamat pagi. (Gives slip/receipt)
Passport Officer 5 : (silence)(No eye contact)
Malaysian : ???? (look for a seat)
4 passports later....
Passport Officer 5 : Ah Moi. Ah Moi...Ah Moi....tak dengar lah...AH MOI!!
Malaysia : Ya. Saya.
Passport Officer 5 :Lu Ah Moi? simpan jari sini.
Malaysian : jari ini? (dumb look which can make you cry - she gives her right thumb...thumb not finger)
Malaysian: put thumb on blinking machine...(many minutes passed...) sudah kah?
(Mesih ada masalah? jari saya ada masalah?
Passport Officer 5 : (no answer)
Malaysian : ???
Passport Officer 5 : Paspot.
Malaysian : Terima Kasih...
Passport Officer 5 :...(give whites of eyes) Boring look. (time for his breakfast may be)
Malaysian Culture : Government Officers are all tired. Overworked.
Actually making passports nowadays in Sarawak is quite speedy. This could be an isolated incident because Ah Moi is rather old and a little hard of hearing. She is also over 60 and probably considered illiterate in all languages. She has that kind of lost look....and of course is no Datuk Nur Haliza...
But she is able to read and write and sign her name. She is different from the older people who have to use their thumb prints (cap ibu jari).
Remember years ago we had to travel to Kuching to get our passport? Or even KL Damansara where the queue was three mile long?
Consider ourselves very lucky today. If we know the passport officer we might even go and minum kopi in the staff canteen or Ban Hup at the corner and laugh over some P Ramlee memorable scenes.
Cheers! What's your passport making story?
16 comments:
Thanks for the warning! My passport due next month. And I hate going to offices where staff cannot even hold a simple conversation in English. And never bother to return greeting!!!
Hahaha! I like this post, very well written in Manglish! It really gives me a good hearty laugh and strikes a cord with many of us who have had a similar experience when trying to apply for new passports in any Immigration Office.
I am tempted to send a copy to the Director of the Sarawak Immigration Office so that he can have a good laugh too!
Hi CY
I am sure some older people would be grateful to any one who could help with form filling etc. That is why whenever Datin Lau Hieng Ding helped out in KL Damansara Passport Office the people who asked her for help are forever grateful.
Grateful Sarikei friend.
hehehe...hahaha ...kekeke!
Haha. Welcome to Malaysia. :P
The plaza is scary as so empty. Luckily I am not going oversea anytime soon.So no worries for me.
Dear Anonymous
Ah Moi is like hundreds of others. Who is not practising the principles of communication?
Let's all be Malaysians - good hospitality - and truly Asia....
Dear Siaw Yang...
Thanks for the compliments. I am glad you had a good laugh...we need a lot of humour to get us going in times like this...
DearAnonymous...
Yes I heard a great deal about our Datin Seri Ngui -Lau who has always been very helpful especially when people go all the way from Sibu and Sarikei to KL to ask her for help.
Queues in the Damansara Passport Unit were long and slow. I heard she even went to the airport to welcome her needy people.
Ah Ngao...
May be in Kuching better? hehehehehehe hahahahahaha kakakakaka.
Superman
Hope your passport making is a pleasant one...must ask YB for help JUST IN CASE.
So far, my passport making experiences are good. They are friendly to us. It also open on Sunday. Actually no need to go too early to make passport, recommended to go on sunday. Once my mum make her passport on sunday, and it can be taken on that afternoon.
Dear Ghosty Nana
That's a good tip but I am not sure if it can be done in Miri.
thanks.
hmmnn.. what you mean by 'if it can be done in Miri'?
http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2010/05/ruby-red-tuesday-mothers-day.html
Hi CY,
You don't normally read my other blog, but I like you to read it because I know you have much to say being a daughter, daughter in law and a mum.
Happy Mother's day for Sunday.
Ghosty Nana
I am referring to whether the office is opened on Sunday....
Have to go there and check..
Hi Ann
Happy Mother's Day to you too....
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