A Malaysian woman had her travel plans derailed after her passport, which had previously been soaked during floods, was deemed damaged and unfit for travel.
The incident forced her to make multiple trips to replace the document, which took several days and cost her about RM1,100.
Had dried up but still rejected
According to Sin Chew Daily, the woman said she was preparing to fly with her family of three from Kota Kinabalu to Hong Kong when she was stopped at the check-in counter.
Airport staff later informed her that her passport could not be accepted as it had previously been damaged by water.
Although she had dried the passport and there were no obvious tears or missing pages, officers ruled that the document was still compromised due to visible warping.
The woman said the moment she was told she could not board left her at a loss, and her emotions nearly broke when her young daughter asked why they could not travel.
Believing the issue could be resolved the next day at the airport immigration office, she instead found herself navigating a series of unexpected requirements.
Asked to replace daughter’s birth certificate
According to her account, the airport immigration office directed her to the Sabah Immigration headquarters, which then asked her to first reissue her daughter’s birth certificate.
I rushed to the National Registration Department (JPN) to settle it, only to be told that I also needed to replace the adult birth certificate, and that processing in Sabah could take at least five days.”
After running back and forth without a clear solution, she decided to book the earliest available flight to Miri to reapply for a damaged passport, noting that procedures differed between locations.
She explained that replacing a damaged passport in Miri required a written explanation for the damage, copies of the MyKad, full copies of the old passport, a police report and relevant forms for adults.
For her children, documents included the birth certificate, parents’ marriage certificate and a police report.
Fast-tracked with help from officers
She said officers at the Miri Immigration Office were understanding and helped expedite her application after she explained her situation, allowing her to obtain a new passport more quickly.
Just replacing the passport cost RM1,100, including penalties and fees. Our entire plan was disrupted, and the expenses added up.”
Sharing her experience, the woman warned travellers that even minor moisture exposure or slight damage to a passport could result in denied boarding.
She also urged the public to check travel documents carefully before departure, purchase travel insurance and familiarise themselves with local procedures in case a replacement is needed.
