Thursday December 29, 2005

Applicants to be charged a fee from next year

BY V.P. SUJATA

PUTRAJAYA: Dec 31 is the absolute last day for free MyKad application.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said there would be no extension to the deadline, so those who applied for MyKad after that date would be levied a fee to be set by the Government.

“The amount will be decided next week,” he said, adding that all National Registration Department (NRD) branches would be accepting applications until midnight on Dec 31.

It was reported earlier that the application fee for MyKad was expected to be RM20 as the cost of making a MyKad was RM38.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid

Azmi said that Malaysians who studied or lived abroad, and those who resided in remote areas of the country and had to travel far to get their MyKad done would be given a reprieve.

As of Dec 27, the number of people who have yet to apply for MyKad was 1,180,208, he said.

To prevent the mad rush at NRD offices in the cities, he suggested that the people go to branches outside the Federal Territory and Selangor – such as Kuala Kubu Baru, Sepang and Sabak Bernam – because these outlets are less busy.

“I wish to thank NRD staff who have been working late nights since the rush started, forgoing their holidays and not being able to tend to their children who have to go to school next week,” he said.

Azmi also said that old identity cards could still be used after Dec 31, adding that the Government had yet to set a date when such ICs would no longer be valid.

“The assumption that the old IC cannot be used starting Jan 1 is not true,” he told a press conference at his ministry here yesterday.

Asked why the Government had not set the expiry date for old ICs, Azmi said considerations would have to be made such as Malaysians overseas.

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