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NRD should set up a special MyKad counter to cater to the elderly and parents with young children Press Statement by John Chung (Petaling Jaya, Monday): The National Registration Department (NRD) had recently reported an overwhelming increase of applications for MyKad, from 9,000 to 20,000 applications daily. To cope with the increase, NRD director-general Datuk Azizan Ayob promised the setting up of more counters at branches nationwide and the employment of more staff including the opening of counters during lunch hour.   In addition to these measures, perhaps the NRD should consider fixing a certain quota for applications that can be processed daily if the number is too great. The balance of applicants should then be given a specific date to return to upgrade their IC. This will help ease the volume of applications as well as reduce the waiting period, especially as there have been complaints by the public of having to queue up for hours just to get their applications processed.   The NRD should also give thought to the setting up of a special MyKad counter for the elderly and parents with young children (like the fast cheque counter practised by some banks) to expedite the application process for this group of people particularly as they make up only a small percentage of the applicants. (26/5/2003) * John Chung, DAP National Publicity Bureau Assistant Secretary