WHAT happened to MyKad’s promise of a "one card for all"?
Touted as the answer to every Malaysian’s documentation woes during its launch in 2001, it promised to incorporate the traditional identification card with banking, passport, driving licence and other facilities into one neat, little package.
A novel idea, it promised convenience, efficiency and security for applications among the Government, banking institutions and private businesses.
However, five years on, problems have cropped up.
It appears that hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who have incorporated details of their driving licences into their MyKads have been unable to renew their licences at the National Registration Department (NRD) and Pos Malaysia offices. A person can only renew his or her licence, which has been incorporated into MyKad, at the Road Transport Department (RTD).
To compound matters, apart from not being able to renew their licences at the NRD or post offices, they must also bring along their old licences, failing which, they will be fined RM20, on top of the renewal fee.
This has left those who have placed their trust in the MyKad system and are no longer in possession of their old licences, in a quandary.
The problem was brought to The Malay Mail’s attention by a reader, who tried renewing his licence at the NRD.
He said, having incorporated details of his driving licence into his MyKad, he fully expected to be able to renew it at the NRD.
"I was told that I couldn’t and had to go to the RTD instead, where I would be given a separate licence. It appears that we’re back to square one as this is the procedure used before the MyKad was introduced.
"What is the point of adding details of my driving licence into MyKad if it is not the ‘one card for all’?" he asked.
Our checks with the NRD confirmed the claims. Its public relations officer, Jainisah Mohd Noor, clarified that the process can no longer be carried out at their offices.
"All transactions involving the RTD have been blocked at NRD offices. It wasn’t a problem earlier. I do not know how long this will continue. The RTD may be the best agency to contact on this matter," she said, declining to elaborate further.
When contacted, RTD director-general Datuk Emran Kadir admitted the problem, saying that it stemmed from an RTD pilot project in Seremban recently.
"The MyKad licence renewal service was previously only available in the Klang Valley. We were looking at widening the coverage of the services and used Seremban as a trial area," he said.
Emran said they experienced technical glitches during the trial period.
"As a result, any attempt to renew driving licences at the NRD will automatically interfere with our systems.
"We cannot risk any further disruptions until the problems are rectified. Until then, it’s on hold," he said.
He said MyKad users have to renew their licences at the RTD for the time being, but assured the public that the system will be operational soon. However, he could not say when normal operations will resume.
On Feb 17, The Malay Mail highlighted a similar complaint. The answer given by NRD was "The system at the RTD counter is not updated yet. However, the public will be able to renew their licences at RTD branches nationwide once this is done."
MM says: Let’s hope the problems are fixed soon. Or else we could see many people driving without valid licences.
A novel idea, it promised convenience, efficiency and security for applications among the Government, banking institutions and private businesses.
However, five years on, problems have cropped up.
It appears that hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who have incorporated details of their driving licences into their MyKads have been unable to renew their licences at the National Registration Department (NRD) and Pos Malaysia offices. A person can only renew his or her licence, which has been incorporated into MyKad, at the Road Transport Department (RTD).
To compound matters, apart from not being able to renew their licences at the NRD or post offices, they must also bring along their old licences, failing which, they will be fined RM20, on top of the renewal fee.
This has left those who have placed their trust in the MyKad system and are no longer in possession of their old licences, in a quandary.
The problem was brought to The Malay Mail’s attention by a reader, who tried renewing his licence at the NRD.
He said, having incorporated details of his driving licence into his MyKad, he fully expected to be able to renew it at the NRD.
"I was told that I couldn’t and had to go to the RTD instead, where I would be given a separate licence. It appears that we’re back to square one as this is the procedure used before the MyKad was introduced.
"What is the point of adding details of my driving licence into MyKad if it is not the ‘one card for all’?" he asked.
Our checks with the NRD confirmed the claims. Its public relations officer, Jainisah Mohd Noor, clarified that the process can no longer be carried out at their offices.
"All transactions involving the RTD have been blocked at NRD offices. It wasn’t a problem earlier. I do not know how long this will continue. The RTD may be the best agency to contact on this matter," she said, declining to elaborate further.
When contacted, RTD director-general Datuk Emran Kadir admitted the problem, saying that it stemmed from an RTD pilot project in Seremban recently.
"The MyKad licence renewal service was previously only available in the Klang Valley. We were looking at widening the coverage of the services and used Seremban as a trial area," he said.
Emran said they experienced technical glitches during the trial period.
"As a result, any attempt to renew driving licences at the NRD will automatically interfere with our systems.
"We cannot risk any further disruptions until the problems are rectified. Until then, it’s on hold," he said.
He said MyKad users have to renew their licences at the RTD for the time being, but assured the public that the system will be operational soon. However, he could not say when normal operations will resume.
On Feb 17, The Malay Mail highlighted a similar complaint. The answer given by NRD was "The system at the RTD counter is not updated yet. However, the public will be able to renew their licences at RTD branches nationwide once this is done."
MM says: Let’s hope the problems are fixed soon. Or else we could see many people driving without valid licences.
posted by SEE FU at 12:36 PM
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