Home Ministry cuts red tape in service delivery, says Saifuddin
The Home Minister said the ministry aims to improve outdated rules and streamline processes that burden citizens and businesses alike.
He added that the initiative has already made progress by reducing the processing time for late birth registrations for children under five years from three months to 45 days.
Additionally, the issuance of overseas birth certificates, known as Form A, has been expedited from 52 days to just seven days.
'This initiative is introduced to improve outdated rules and bureaucratic processes that are burdensome.
'Whether for daily citizen affairs or business communities, the main objective is to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, making processes easier and more efficient.
'Through this initiative, outdated regulations at the NRD, which do not match current developments, are reviewed to be more transparent, efficient, and effective,' he told reporters after attending his ministry's monthly assembly here on Wednesday (Aug 20).
Saifuddin also said that the ministry's Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) programme continues its outreach to assist individuals in obtaining identification cards, including for Malaysians living abroad.
He said that as of July 31, Mekar has successfully conducted 1,633 programmes nationwide, processing 24,863 applications.
'Instead of waiting for individuals to come to our office, we go out and find them,' said Saifuddin.
For overseas Malaysians, Saifuddin said that the Mekar Diaspora programme would be extended to Australia and the United Kingdom.
He said that Malaysians residing in these countries with documentation issues would not have to return home and save cost.
'Through the Mekar Diaspora initiative, we send NRD officers to countries with large Malaysian communities to provide these services directly,' he said.
The programme is scheduled to be in Melbourne, Australia from Sept 14 to 28, followed by London, United Kingdom from Oct 5 to 17.
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