What specific travel issues did affected Malaysians face overseas?

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Affected Malaysians Faced Airline Check-in Problems Due to Passport Validity Exceeding 10 Years

Malaysian passport holders who received passports with validity exceeding 10 years have encountered difficulties during airline check-ins when travelling overseas. These issues arose because certain airline systems are programmed to only accept passport validity up to a maximum of 10 years. The Immigration Department has since halted the practice of adding unused validity from old passports to new ones and is providing free replacements to those affected.
Passport Validity Beyond 10 Years Caused Airline System Conflicts

The core of the travel disruption stems from the practice of issuing Malaysian passports with validity periods that extend beyond the standard 10-year limit. This was a consequence of transferring unused validity from previous passports to the new 10-year passports, a policy that resulted in approximately 26,000 passports carrying validity beyond a decade. Although the Immigration Department maintains that such passports do not violate International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, the practical implementation led to operational conflicts with airline systems.
Certain Airline Systems Have a 10-Year Validity Cap

The Immigration Department itself has acknowledged that the check-in problems were due to specific airline systems that are configured to recognise a maximum passport validity of 10 years. This limitation in the airline systems meant that passports issued with a longer validity, even if technically compliant with international standards, were not accepted for check-in purposes. This oversight in understanding or testing the compatibility with airline systems before issuing the extended validity passports led to the subsequent travel complications.
Free Replacements Offered to Mitigate Inconvenience

In response to the widespread issues faced by Malaysian travellers, the Immigration Department has stopped the practice of issuing passports with validity exceeding 10 years. Furthermore, the department is offering free passport replacements to all affected individuals. This measure aims to rectify the situation and ensure that Malaysian citizens can travel internationally without further complications arising from their passport's validity period.

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What specific travel issues did affected Malaysians face overseas?

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