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Title: Passports Held Up By Blackout

April 29, 2000 (Malaysia)

JOHOR BARU -- A three-day power failure at the state immigration department halted the application process for more than 1,500 passports.

The breakdown also caused a public outcry as services at the fully computerised section had to be performed manually and applicants had to make a return trip to make payments.

Department director Mohd Tasnim Othman blamed constant power trips over the past few days for the computer failure.

"We are taking steps to clear the backlog in the international passports section. We apologise to the public for the inconvenience but the problem was beyond our control."

He added that the backlog was expected to be cleared by next Thursday.

The power trips are believed to have been caused by renovation works on the building housing the department. -- The Star/ Asia News Network

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/mal8_0430.html

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 29, 2000