Malaysia International Passport
Model B : Federation of Malaya 1957 — 1963
It was estimated that 12,201 of British passports were issued during pre-merdeka rush in 1957.[1] Following the independence, the Immigration Department has on 15 July 1957 clamped down the issuance of British Passport only for those who were intended for genuine travel as in the running up months, people has been applying for British Passport without any travelling purpose.[2] [3]
Upon independence, the government of the Federation of Malaya ceased to issue British passports to a citizen of Malaya, even though the Federation Immigration Headquarters was still functioning to deliver passports for the person who can establish his status as a British Subject.[4]
PROVISIONAL PASSPORT
While waiting for the delivery of Malayan passports, citizens of the newly formed Federation of Malaya were given a Provisional Passport from Merdeka Day for a fee of M$3 and was meant to be exchanged for a booklet when the stock has arrived.[4] Due to a problem with the delivery of passport booklets, the provisional passports were issued until 1 March 1958.[5]
From September until December 1957, a total of 3,188 provisional passports were issued.[1]
MALAYAN PASSPORT DOUBLE TIGERS
The Malayan passports which were only being issued from 1 March 1958 due to printer's printing problem[5] were referred to as Double Tigers quite heavily by the newspaper due to the major change on the front cover from British-Government coat-of-arms to one of Federation of Malaya's featuring two-standing tigers.
Each passport costs M$15 when introduced.[7] Passports were similarly issued in two languages, but instead of English-French, Malay-English was used.
Other than language and spelling, changes made from British Passport to Federation Passport, are:
PHYSICAL STRUCTURES
The cover was printed using the gold foil debossing technique where the print is pressed into the material to leave a permanent cavity.
It uses the old Malay spelling for PASPOT which first appeared officially, which was later changed to PASPORT in 1970.
Upon renewal, additional observations regarding previous passport information were rubber-stamped onto page 30.
FEDERATION & DUAL CITIZENSHIP
The nationality and citizenship of the people were recognised as Citizen of the Federation of Malaya.
Whilst British Protected Persons (BPP) from the Malay states lost their BPP status, the Federation of Malaya permitted British Subjects from Penang and Melaka to keep their Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) nationality and at the same time enjoying the benefit of being a citizen of the Federation. This was made possible by not having any provision for the withdrawal and loss of CUKC citizenship in the constitution.
These dual-citizenship holders, however, were only permitted to use passports issued by the Federation. Enforced from 1 October 1958, anyone who was using a British passport for travelling may be deprived of his Federation citizenship by the government.[5] Note regarding dual citizenship was printed on the back cover of the passport.
Despite the Federation claimed that anyone born after Merdeka Day to having only one citizenship, male CUKCs are however permitted to pass their British citizenship to their children. But the legality of further issues was made complicated when the United Kingdom revised their Nationality Law in 1962 and again in 1983.
DIPLOMATIC REQUEST PAGE
The request page was printed in two languages, Malay and English and was officially signed by issuing officer.
PERMITTED COUNTRIES
Malayan passports were made valid for all countries. Exception countries were rubber-stamped on page 4,
On later passports, a change was made with the reference of KOREA to NORTH KOREA probably after 23 February 1960, when Malaya and South Korea announced the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Interestingly, Israel was not added to this list.
Unlike British Passports which were issued before independence, Malayan passports no longer require the holder to have a return permit when leaving the country.[4] However, for the restricted countries, endorsement for leave and return permit was necessary.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE FOR TRAVELLING EXPENSES
Page 31
Page 32
RULES & REGULATIONS
Notes and reminder were printed in two languages, Malay and English.
The Malay version has two wrong spellings marked in red.
Upon independence, the government of the Federation of Malaya ceased to issue British passports to a citizen of Malaya, even though the Federation Immigration Headquarters was still functioning to deliver passports for the person who can establish his status as a British Subject.[4]
PROVISIONAL PASSPORT
While waiting for the delivery of Malayan passports, citizens of the newly formed Federation of Malaya were given a Provisional Passport from Merdeka Day for a fee of M$3 and was meant to be exchanged for a booklet when the stock has arrived.[4] Due to a problem with the delivery of passport booklets, the provisional passports were issued until 1 March 1958.[5]
From September until December 1957, a total of 3,188 provisional passports were issued.[1]
MALAYAN PASSPORT DOUBLE TIGERS
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PASSED—NEW PASSPORT DESIGN
PENANG. Tues. — The Federal Executive Council has approved a design for the new passport for independent Malaya. Wording will be in rumi and English and the cover will bear the Federation insignia. Twenty thousand will probably be ordered. They will be printed in London by Crown Agents. The Straits Times, 3 July 1957[6] |
The Malayan passports which were only being issued from 1 March 1958 due to printer's printing problem[5] were referred to as Double Tigers quite heavily by the newspaper due to the major change on the front cover from British-Government coat-of-arms to one of Federation of Malaya's featuring two-standing tigers.
Each passport costs M$15 when introduced.[7] Passports were similarly issued in two languages, but instead of English-French, Malay-English was used.
Other than language and spelling, changes made from British Passport to Federation Passport, are:
- Colour: From Old-Blue to Red
- Background microtext
- Citizenship status
PHYSICAL STRUCTURES
| Predominant Colour | Cover: Red with two cut-out windows Pages: Grey-greenish |
| Watermark | Tiger's head |
| Background Microtext | FEDERATIONOFMALAYA |
| Page Decoration | Two arcs, both forming a circle in the middle of the page with the similar text: FEDERATION OF MALAYA |
| Dimension | League of Nation 1920 Passport Conference 105 × 155 mm |
| Total of Pages | 32 |
| Printer | Crown Agents (Thomas de la Rue, London) |
| PAGE | DESCRIPTION |
| Front Cover | Cut-out Window 1 Passport Holder's Name (Handwritten) Document's Name PASSPORT  Coat-of-Arms of the Federation of Malaya Country's Name FEDERATION OF MALAYA Cut-out Window 2 Passport Number (Printed) |
| Front Cover - Interior Side | Diplomatic Request Page |
| Page 1 | Total Page in the Booklet Document's Name PASPOT PASSPORT Country's Name PERSEKUTUAN TANAH MELAYU FEDERATION OF MALAYA Document's Number (Printed) Document Holder's Name(Handwritten) Document Holder's Number of Accompanying Children Document Holder's Citizenship |
| Page 2 | Holder's Description (Handwritten) Holder's Children Description (Handwritten) |
| Page 3 | Holder's Photo Holder's Signature Slip Three Boxes for Children's Photos |
| Page 4 | Permitted Countries (Rubber-stamped) Passport Validity (Rubber-stamped) |
| Page 5 | Renewals Observations |
| Page 6 until Page 30 | Visas |
| Page 31 | Foreign Exchange for Travelling Expenses (Basic Allowance) |
| Page 32 | Foreign Exchange for Travelling Expenses (Special Allotments) |
| Additional Page (Backside) | ~ Empty Side ~ |
| Additional Page | Notes & Regulations (Malay) |
| Back Cover - Interior Side | Notes & Regulations (English) |
The cover was printed using the gold foil debossing technique where the print is pressed into the material to leave a permanent cavity.
It uses the old Malay spelling for PASPOT which first appeared officially, which was later changed to PASPORT in 1970.
Upon renewal, additional observations regarding previous passport information were rubber-stamped onto page 30.
FEDERATION & DUAL CITIZENSHIP
The nationality and citizenship of the people were recognised as Citizen of the Federation of Malaya.
Whilst British Protected Persons (BPP) from the Malay states lost their BPP status, the Federation of Malaya permitted British Subjects from Penang and Melaka to keep their Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) nationality and at the same time enjoying the benefit of being a citizen of the Federation. This was made possible by not having any provision for the withdrawal and loss of CUKC citizenship in the constitution.
These dual-citizenship holders, however, were only permitted to use passports issued by the Federation. Enforced from 1 October 1958, anyone who was using a British passport for travelling may be deprived of his Federation citizenship by the government.[5] Note regarding dual citizenship was printed on the back cover of the passport.
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DUAL NATIONALITY
7. Persons who are Citizens of the Federation of Malaya may posses a foreign nationality in addition to their Citizenship of the Federation of Malaya. When in the country of their second nationality, such persons cannot avail themselves of the protection of Federation of Malaya representatives against the authorities of the foreign country, and are not exempt, by reason of possessing Citizenship of the Federation of Malaya, from any obligations such as military service to which they may be liable under foreign law. |
Despite the Federation claimed that anyone born after Merdeka Day to having only one citizenship, male CUKCs are however permitted to pass their British citizenship to their children. But the legality of further issues was made complicated when the United Kingdom revised their Nationality Law in 1962 and again in 1983.
DIPLOMATIC REQUEST PAGE
The request page was printed in two languages, Malay and English and was officially signed by issuing officer.
| Bahawa sa-nya atas nama Yang di-Pertuan Agong Persekutuan Tanah Melayu di-minta sakalian yang berkenaan supaya membenarkan pembawa paspot ini lalu dengan bebas dengan tiada halangan dan memberi kapada-nya apa-apa jua pertolongan dan perlindongan yang perlu. There are to request and require in the name of the Paramount Ruler of the Federation of Malaya all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary. Bagi Pehak Menteri Luar / Konsol Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu.
For Minister of External Affairs / Consul of the Government of the Federation of Malaya. |
PERMITTED COUNTRIES
Malayan passports were made valid for all countries. Exception countries were rubber-stamped on page 4,
| HONG KONG U.S.S.R, ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, YUGOSLAVIA, BULGARIA, HUNGARY, GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (EAST GERMANY), ALBANIA, ROUMANIA, CHINA, KOREA, VIETMINH. |
On later passports, a change was made with the reference of KOREA to NORTH KOREA probably after 23 February 1960, when Malaya and South Korea announced the establishment of diplomatic relations.
| ROUMANIA, CHINA, N. KOREA, VIETMINH. |
Interestingly, Israel was not added to this list.
Unlike British Passports which were issued before independence, Malayan passports no longer require the holder to have a return permit when leaving the country.[4] However, for the restricted countries, endorsement for leave and return permit was necessary.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE FOR TRAVELLING EXPENSES
Page 31
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Foreign Exchange for Travelling Expenses.
BASIC ALLOWANCE No entries to be made on this page except by a Bank or Travel Agency in Malaya or the United Kingdom. EXCHANGE CONTROL ORDINANCE, 1953 The Malayan Controls remind travellers that the basic travel allowance is issued subject to a condition that it shall be used only for their own personal expenditure abroad. Any unused foreign currency should be offered for re-sale to the traveller's bank or travel agency and any unused traveller's cheque, etc., should be encashed.
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Page 32
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Foreign Exchange for Travelling Expenses.
SPECIAL ALLOTMENTS No entries to be made on this page except by a Bank or Travel Agency in Malaya or the United Kingdom.
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RULES & REGULATIONS
Notes and reminder were printed in two languages, Malay and English.
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CHATITAN
1. Pasport ada-lah di-keluarkan dan di-baharui oleh pehak berkuasa yang berkenaan di-Persekutuan Tanah Melayu dan oleh Wakil2 Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu di-negeri luar: maka kapada-nya-lah meminta. Di-negeri2 yang tiada wakil Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu boleh-lah minta kapada pegawai diplomat atau konsol British. 2. Paspot ini boleh di-pakai sa-lama lima tahun dari tarikh mula2 di-keluarkan kechuali jika di-dalam-nya ada di-nyatakan lain daripada itu, dan boleh di-baharui dari tarikh habis tempoh-nya dengan sharat tidak boleh lebeh dari tempoh 10 tahun dari tarikh mula2 di-keluarkan. Bayaran pembaharuan $2/- bagi tiap2 tahun. Paspot tidak boleh di-pakai lebeh daripada 10 tahun dari tarikh pengeluaran-nya yang pertama. Jika di-dalam pasport tiada tempat lagi untok menuliskan visa hendak-lah ambil paspot yang baharu. 3. Paspot boleh di-pakai untuk negeri2 yang di-tunjokkan pada muka 4. Barang siapa memakai paspot-nya dengan melanggar batas2 dan had2 yang di-tetapkan di-dalam-nya haris ia tidak akan mendapat perlindongan dari wakil2 Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu sa-masa ia maseh di-luar negeri. Orang yang mempunya paspot tidak-lah terlepas daripada mengikut peratoran2 imigresen yang berlaku di-negeri2 luar dan juga daripada mengambil visa atau surat kebenaran di-mana2 yang di-kehendaki. 4. Paspot yang mengandongi keterangan hal anak pembawa tidak boleh di-gunakan oleh anak itu jika mereka pergi bersendiri. 5. Anak yang sudah sampai 15 tahun umor-nya hendak-lah mempunyai paspot sendiri. PENDAFTARAN MASA DI-LUAR NEGERI
6. Warga Negara Persekutuan Tanah Melayu yang tinggal di-negeri luar hendak-lah dengan sa-berapa segera mendaftarkan nama dan alamat-nya kapada wakil Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Kalau tidak di perbuat demikian dalam masa dzarurat harus-lah kelak payah atau lambat mereka mendapat pertolongan atau perlindongan yang mereka berhak menerima-nya sa-bagai warga negera daripada Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, dan lagi pun, jika timbul sa-suatu hal, harus ia akan hilang hak Kera'ayatan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Hendak-lah memberi tahu apabila bertukar alamat atau berkeluar daripada negeri itu. DUA RUPABANGSA
7. Orang2 yang jadi Warga Negara Persekutuan Tanah Melayu boleh memiliki rupabangsa negeri lain sa-lain daripada kera'ayatan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Apabila mereka di-dalam negeri kera'ayatan-nya yang kedua orang2 yang tersebut tidak-lah mendapat perlingdongan wakil Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu daripada langkah2 pehak berkuasa kerajaan negeri yang kedua itu ka-atas-nya, dan walau pun mereka mempunyai kera'ayatan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu tidak-lah mereka terlepas daripada kewajipan2 saperti berkhidmat dalam tentera yang harus di-sempurnakan oleh-nya menurut undang2 negeri itu. INGAT 8. Pasport ini tetap jadi hak Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu dan boleh di-tarek balek pada bila2 masa jua pun. Paspot2 tidak-lah boleh di-kirimkan dengan pos dari sa-buah negeri ka-sabuah negeri. 9. Paspot ini ia-lah surat yang di-hargai dan jangan sa-kali2 di-ubah atau di-serahkan ka-tangan orang yang tiada hak memiliki-nya. Jika sa-kira-nya paspot ini hilang atau binana maka hendak-lah di-adukan hal ini dengan serta-merta ka-Pejabat Paspot yang hampir sa-kali di-Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, atau kapada wakil Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu yang hampir sa-kali di-negeri luar dan juga kapada pehak polis tempatan. Di-tempat yang tiada wakil Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu hendak-lah hal itu di-adukan kapada Pegawai Diplomat atau Konsol British yang hampir sa-kali. Paspot yang baharu hanya boleh di-keluarkan sa-sudah di-siasat dengan sachukup-nya. |
The Malay version has two wrong spellings marked in red.
|
NOTES
1. Passports are issued and renewed by the competent authorities in the Federation of Malaya, and by Representatives of the Federation of Malaya abroad, to whom applications should be made. Where there is no Federation of Malaya representative, applications may be made to a British Diplomatic or Consular Office. 2. They are available for five years in the first instance unless other stated, and may be renewed from the date of expiry, provided the total period of validity of ten years from the original date is not exceeded. The fee for each year of renewal is $2/-. They are not available beyond ten years from the original date of issue. If at any time the passport contains no further space for visas, a new passport must be obtained. 3. Passports are available for the countries shown on page 4. A person using a passport in contravention of the restriction and limitations imposed in it may have the protection of the Federation of Malaya representatives withdrawn while he is abroad. The possession of a passport does not exempt the holder from compliance with any immigration regulations in force in countries abroad, or from the necessity of obtaining a visa or permit where required. 4. A passport including particulars of the holder's children is not available for the children's use when they are travelling alone. 5. Children who have reached the age of 15 years require separate passports. REGISTRATION WHILE ABROAD
6. Citizens of the Federation of Malaya who are resident abroad should at the earliest opportunity register their names and addressed with a Federation of Malaya representative. Failure to do so in a period of emergency may result in difficulty or delay in according Citizens of the Federation of Malaya the assistance and protection to which they are entitled. Failure to register may also render them liable, in certain circumstances, to loss of Citizenship of the Federation of Malaya. Changes of addressed or departure from the country should also be reported. DUAL NATIONALITY
7. Persons who are Citizens of the Federation of Malaya may posses a foreign nationality in addition to their Citizenship of the Federation of Malaya. When in the country of their second nationality, such persons cannot avail themselves of the protection of Federation of Malaya representatives against the authorities of the foreign country, and are not exempt, by reason of possessing Citizenship of the Federation of Malaya, from any obligations such as military service to which they may be liable under foreign law. CAUTION
8. This passport remains the property of the Government of the Federation of Malaya and may be withdrawn at any time. Passports should not be sent from one country to another by post. 9. It is a valuable document and should not be altered in any way or allowed to pass into the possession of an unauthorised person. If lost of destroyed, the fact and circumstances should be immediately reported to the nearest Passport Office in the Federation of Malaya, or to the nearest Federation of Malaya representative abroad, and to the local police. Where there is no Federation of Malaya representative the loss should be reported to the nearest British Diplomatic or Consular Officer. New passports can only be issued in such cases after exhaustive enquiries. |
Footnotes
- a, b _, (1958 Jan 24), BIG PASSPORT RUSH BEFORE MERDEKA, p. 4. The Straits Times. Available at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19580124-1.2.52
- ^ _, (1957 Jul 18), Passport bagi pengembara2 sahaja, p. 5. Berita Harian. Available at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/beritaharian19570718-1.2.69
- ^ Federation of Malaya : British Passport (1957-1962) Variety IV. Available at https://www.papertotravel.com/MP-625
- a, b, c _, (1957 Oct 12), 350 telah terima passport sementara, p. 3. Berita Harian. Available at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/beritaharian19571012-1.2.47
- a, b, c _, (1962 Jul 24), That Oct. 1 deadline for passports: An official ruling, p. 5. The Straits Times. Available at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19620724-1.2.37
- ^ _, (1957 Jul 3), MALAYAN PASSPORT DOUBLE TIGERS p. 4. The Straits Times.
Available at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19570703-1.2.52 - ^ _, (1957 Nov 20), Pejabat passport Malaya, p. 2. Berita Harian. Available at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/beritaharian19571120-1.2.28