PETALING JAYA, Fri. - Those applying for new high security identity cards in eight states and the Federal Territory will receive their cards within two weeks from this month.Applicants previously had to wait for months before they received their identity cards.Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali said the states are Perlis, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Terengganu and Kelantan.

"The National Registration Department should be given a pat on the back for its efforts to expedite the issuance of identity cards," he said, adding that this had been made possible following the partial implementation of the RM204 million National Records Information System (SIREN) in these states.

Abdul Halim was speaking to reporters after a briefing by NRD director general Datuk Azizan Ayob at the department's headquarters here.

Also present was Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mihd Noor Rahim.

On average, the department processed about 800,000 applications for identity cards annually.

Speaking to reporters later, Azizan said from June next year, all applications for new identiy cards, renewal and replacement of lost ones, would be processed within two weeks.

Azizan said by then, the SIREN system would be fully on-line.

He said 74 NRD offices nationwide would be liked with the headquarters by then. The NRD has 178 offices nationwide.

The implementation of the SIREM system began last July and is expected to be completed by June next year.

"We have to complete the SIREM programme by June next year as it is a prerequisite for the implementation of the Multi Purpose Card," he said.

(The MPC is on of the flagship applications of Malaysia's Multimedia Super Corridor. It will be a plastic card embedded with a chip or microprocessor that has the capability to perfom a wide range of functions and, among others, has a complete data of the holder.)

Azizan said for the time being, some of those applying to replace thir lost identity cards in the eight states and Federal Territory may receive their new cards after two weeks.

"We are now inputting details such as the fingerprints of 16 million identity card holders into the SIREN. This will make it easier for my officers to process applications for renewals in future," he said.

Azizan said so far, the details of four million card holders has been put into the system.

"The particulars of the remaining 12 million holders would be put into the SIREN in the new few months," he said.

he said the department would also clear the backlog of about 140,000 applications for new idnentiy cards by September.

Earlier in his speech, Abdul Halim reminded NRD staff not to indulge in illegal activities which could tarnish the image of the department.

"Never forget that this department deals with security documents. We do not wish to see those who are not eligible (illegals etc) getting Malaysian citizenship," Abdul Halim said the authorities were aware of syndicates which falsified documents issued by the NRD.