SOME
THINGS JUST TAKE A LONG TIME TO CHANGE
by
Patrick Teoh
07/10/05
Patrick
Teoh blogs! How to plug his new blog (Tokkok)
and get a few beers off the master of niamahs at the same time? Let him guest
blog at Dua Sen lah...
The MyKad, the government multi
purpose card that is set to replace Malaysia's NRIC - National Registration Identity
Card, has been in the news again. Prizes for changing over. Road shows to encourage
changing over. Deadlines. Yesterday I decided that I would go do it since it is
inevitable that it will have to be done.
I happened to be chatting with
my friend TV Smith and he told me that the registration department has a website
and that I would find useful information there. I went there and lo and behold
a working website by a government department! Very informative site indeed. Listed
all the locations for MyKad application and collection, phone numbers, documents
required to effect the changeover, etc.
I was impressed. I called one
of the phone numbers listed and after getting no answer on one attempt and a couple
of engaged tones I spoke to a polite and helpful person. She told me what I had
to bring for the application which was my passport if I had one, my current NRIC.
What about photos I asked. No need. You get here and we will take them
for you. Huh? Really ah? Errrr.....how much money will it cost and should I bring
cash? No need. It's FREE! Ha!!!??? Really one ah? Yes, I was assured by this very
helpful lady on the other end of the line. Just come over and we will take care
of everything for you. Hey, what do you know man? Pak Lah kicks ass man!And
so armed with a renewed confidence in government efficiency and a swelling pride
of being part of the new Bolehland I drove to the nearest location, Maju Junction.
Right in the middle of the city. Easy parking. Spanking new building. After getting
lost a couple of times I found the JPN. There were quite a lot of people there
already.
The moment I walked through the door my heart sank. Most of the
counters were manned by the dreaded TUTUP sign. The faces of all the MyKad applicant
hopefuls had this look that you see at all government department queues. Resignation.
I found the counter where I was to get my queue number but didn't see the sign
that was sitting on it. I asked the man behind the counter for a number. He pointed
at the sign. It read "NOMBOR GILIRAN UNTUK HARI INI SUDAH HABIS".
Okay
I paraphrase but that was what it meant. The rather disinterested man behind the
counter said that I should come back the next day and ...try again! Someone standing
close by offered an unsolicited piece of advice. "You have to come early
in the morning one."
So after all the hoohah it does still cost the
Malaysian rakyat one full day off school/work/business to do something simple
involving a government department. No wonder response to the MyKad changeover
has been lukewarm despite enticements of attractive prizes. Including a Proton
Savvy I'm told.
Maybe I will just forget about it and join the ranks of
the millions of apathetic Malaysians and not bother with MyKad. Until they tell
us that they will fine us shitloads of money or throw us in jail if we don't change.
And then I will wait for them to announce discounts for the fines before I get
off my butt and go get a nombor giliran. SIGH. ©
2005 PATRICK TEOH
Link to this article: http://www.tvsmith.net.my/duasen/071005_change.html
See also: THE NAKED CARD
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