PETALING JAYA, Thurs. - From today, Malaysians can use colour photographs when submitting applications for identity cards.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said although it was not compulsory for Malaysians who already had identity cards to change their photographs to those in colour, those who were applying for the first time were advised to do so as eventually all identity cards would have colour pictures.

Abdullah, who is also Home Minister, was speaking after attending a 90-minute briefing at the National Registration Department.

He was briefed on NRD's operations by its director-general Datuk Azizan Ayob. Also present were deputy Home Minister Datuk Ong Ka Ting and ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Noor Rahim.

Abdullah said people who wished to change their identity cards to those with colour photographs would have to pay RM4 when submitting their applications. They will also have to provide two photographs.

"The applicants will get their new identity cards within three weeks."

On why the department has allowed the use of colour photographs, Abdullah said this was becauase it was becoming increasingly difficult for the public to get black and white pictures.

"The number of photo studios providing services for black and white pictures has greatly reduced. In Sabah and Sarawak, it is difficult to find studios which take black and white pictures," he said.

He said it was also cheaper to take colour pictures compared with black and white ones.

Abdullah also advised applicants not to use polaroid or instant pictures as some lacked quality.

He also congratulated Azizan and the department for having cleared more than 90 per cent of the backlog in applications for new identity cards over the part two years.

He said the backlog now totalled 190,000.

"I have been told that the department would be able to clear the remaining applications by October," hesaid.

Abdullah also said under NRD's computerisation programme, all birth certificates would be issued within one day.

At present, it can take up to three weeks for the document to be issued.

He said the NRD's computerisation programme had also been updated with an investment of RM204 million.

Among sophisticated equipment installed to detect falsification of documents includes the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System.

"UnderAFIS, we can detect whether a particular set of finger prints belongs to the person whose name is stated on the identity card. This way we hope to put a stop to the falsification of documents," he said.

Abdullah also reminded NRD staff to continue to be courteous and improve their services, especially at the counters.

"We must always be a mesra rakyat (people friendly) administration. We must continue to improve our services at all times, "he said.