Getting a new Malaysian passport at the High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore

I thought I'd share my recent experience applying for a new Malaysian passport at the High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore. Hopefully, it'll be helpful to others.

STEP 1: FINDING OUT WHAT TO BRING

• What I did was call the High Commission's telephone line for Immigration and Consular matters - 67328067 - for recorded instructions. The recorded message also gives fax and email contacts.
• The message mentioned that they process a maximum of 200 applications a day.
  

STEP 2: GETTING THERE

• The High Commission is located at: 301 Jervois Road.
• To get there, I took the MRT to Redhill, then Bus 32 to the stop opposite Valley Point (on River Valley Road). From that stop, it takes less than 5 minutes to walk to the High Commission.
  

STEP 3: GETTING IN

• You will need a pass from the guardhouse. When I got there at 7.45 am (they were supposed to start giving out passes at 7.30 am), I got a green "I" (Submission) pass number 096.
• I was also given an application form while queueing at the guardhouse to get my pass. There is no charge for the form.
• I noted that older people were reminded to show senior citizen cards. They got a pass with a different colour - I assume that means they get priority.

STEP 4: SUBMISSION

• Submission is accepted from 8.00 am - 11.30 am, subject to limits on the number of applications processed each day.
• To get a queue number to submit your application, you have to produce:
  - Completed application form
  - Current or expiring passport
  - 2 passport-sized photographs with the right specifications
  - Malaysian IC and photocopy
  - Singapore IC (or work permit, student pass, etc.) and photocopy

Photos and Photocopying

• There's a photo booth at one side of the submission area. You'll have to go to the person manning the booth to get a queue number, then wait till your number is called (you can take a seat). Charge for photos: $6. When I got there at about 8 am, I was given number 43, with about 30 people in front of me. I waited an hour there.
• The photocopying service is next to the photo booth.

Getting a submission queue number

• This step requires you to stand in queue. I started lining up at 9 am, and only got the queue number about an hour later. Luckily, I had the foresight to bring a page-turner along (Barbara Nadel's Arabesk: Inspector Ikmen #3 in case you're wondering. Engrossing story!).
• After that, you can take a seat while you wait for your number to come up on the display board. Whew! I definitely needed to sit down by then.
• It was slightly more than an hour, 11.15 am, before I was able to submit my application and make payment. The fee for a new passport is RM300,and they accept Singapore Dollars in cash only. On the day that I went, I was asked for S$124.
  

STEP 5: COLLECTION

• Collection is from 2.30 pm - 4.15 pm.
• You have to first get a yellow "Q" pass from the guard house. I got to the guard house at about 1.45 pm, and was given number 028.
• Collection started promptly at 2.30 pm, with everyone getting their passports based on their Q pass number. It took about 15 minutes to get to my turn ie number 28.

Once I had my new passport, I proceeded to the Singapore Immigration website to transfer my Singapore re-entry permit. You can do it electronically nowadays - http://erep.ica.gov.sg/erep/index.do. Just fill in a few details, and print out the new re-entry permit.

Review: OSIM uSqueez Warm Massager

We were looking for a foot massager for my mum recently, and found out quite a bit about the OSIM uSqueez Warm, which motivated me to write this review on Hubpages:

Review: OSIM uSqueez Warm Massager

Although I didn't mention it in that article, I actually also tried a similar product from OTO -- the OTO Power Foot. According to the OTO salesperson, a unique features is that it has three rollers, and offers options for massage of other parts of the leg like the knee. It's worth checking out not least because the price and freebies are quite attractive. In terms of how good the massage feels, though, I think the OSIM uSqueez wins.

Matthew and the Mandarins at the Esplanade on 1 February 2010

It's been a while since I blogged, but this I must mention:

Coffee Morning & Afternoon Tea: Remembering Johnny Cash by Matthew & The Mandarins

1 Feb 2010 at the Esplanade Recital Studio

Matthew is an outstanding country singer, with a voice that's warm and rich, and a real feel for the music. I also really like the Esplanade Recital Studio as a venue -- it is small enough for you to hear and see properly, and there's an intimate, cozy feel to the place.