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Call on the Government to solve the problems faced by Ipoh residents when dealing with the Government Departments at the Federal Building, Greentown, Ipoh, Perak Media Statement by Ngeh Koo Ham (Ipoh, Wednesday): DAP Perak has launched and encouraged the people at various places in Perak to apply for their My-Kad as we enter into the electronic age. DAP would like to see all Malaysians having their My-Kad by 2005 so that their future transactions with the government departments and financial institutions can be done expeditiously.  I have however, received numerous complaints from Ipoh residents concerning the problems they face when applying for their My-Kad at the Federal Building at Greentown, Ipoh., Perak. My visit to the Federal Building at Greentown, Ipoh yesterday confirmed the problems faced by them.   I noted the following :-   That there is very little parking lots allocated for the public while the government department staff are provided with adequate underground parking.  As it is totally congested inside the Federal Building compound many residents were forced to park their vehicles along the roadside. I have been informed that they will be slapped with city hall summons for doing so. Failure to park at parking bays allotted is the citizen’s wrong but failing to provide the parking bays for them to park is the authority’s fault.  Therefore, the public must not be penalized for the wrong of the authority. Applicants for My-Kad have to wait for many hours.  Many applicants interviewed inform me that they have to take the day off in order to apply for  their My-Kad.  The registration department is already working in full capacity as persons coming after 3.45 pm could no longer be entertained.  At this rate, the department will not be able to ensure that all the residents in Ipoh will have their My-Kad by 2005 the dateline set by the Government.  I call on the Government to open more centers for the processing of My-Kad. No Government personnel was assigned to assist those who are illiterate or who do not know how to fill up the My-Kad application form. DAP is going round the state to assist these applicants but it is the duty of the National Registration department to assign personnel to assist these applicants at their office counters. The Federal Building at Greentown, Ipoh is too far away for many residents living at the outskirt of Ipoh.  I call on the Government to set up more centers and spread them out at the various places of Ipoh to ensure that every citizen will have easy access.  This will be a great help especially to those who are elderly and infirm.  It will also help those who are poor as it will costs about RM8.00 – RM14.00 taxi fare to and from the Federal Building to many parts of Ipoh. DAP demands that the Government must be people friendly as they are financed and paid by the people.  All planning must be made with interest of the people in mind and not only the comfort and the ease of the Government officials.   (19/2/2003) * Ngeh Koo Ham, DAP Perak Chairman