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The Department must also consider seriously the need to set up Mykad counter in certain agencies such as Pos Malaysia at strategic sites, so as to help over eight million Malaysians who have yet to apply for the cards. As it is short of trained personnel, it is difficult to set up more counters and to extend the time for applications.

Mykad is a Malaysian innovation, putting each citizen's personal details in a smart card. It is an identity card plus passport, driving license and others. All Malaysian citizens must apply. There are still 8,200,000 people who have yet to do so. Now, there are queues at the National Registration Department.

On 26 April, 2004, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Azmi Khaled announced that starting from 15 May, 2004, working hours for every branch of the department will be from 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM. For every Saturday and Sunday, it will be from 8.00 AM to 4.00 PM. This is the initial media report. The application of Mykad is free until 31 December, 2005.

The Director-General says that the department is closed on every Sunday and public holiday. The branch in Shah Alam and the headquarters in Petaling Jaya are open on Sundays. He introduces an appointment system for Mycard only at the Maju Junction branch, Kuala Lumpur.

Apart from handling Mykad applications, the department deals with usual matters such as births, deaths and marriages. Hence, there are long queues on certain days of the week like Monday and Saturday. For example, those who queue at the Desa Complex, Kepong, will have to come another day if the queue exceeds 350 people.

The department must monitor closely the efficiency of its branches including the ways with which staff members deal with the public. If people don't wait for the last minute to apply for the card, it will help.

As some places don't have any National Registration office, certain people feel that the department should place a Mykad counter in an agency such as Pos Malaysia. If the constraint of staffing is overcome, this may help reduce congestion.

 Dr Tan Seng Giaw