GETTING A NEW IDENTITY CARD

 When I went to the bank for a transaction a few weeks ago, there was a bit of a problem.  The card reader couldn't read the information on the microchip in my ID card.  The bank clerk advised me to go to the National Registration Department to get a new one done.
Initially I thought it was going to take me at least a few weeks to get a new one.  As it turned out, I got my new card the next day.
On Thursday, I reached the Registration Department at around 8.30 a.m.  I got the number 3076.  The number being served at that time was 3010.  I waited for a while and decided to go back to college (which was nearby) to send some documents to my library assistant at 8.50 a.m.  I was back at the department by 9.35 a.m.  The number being serviced was 2045.  After that I saw two more counters being opened and things sped up.  My turn came at 10.00 a.m.  It took another 15 minutes or so for my photograph to be taken.  By 10.20 a.m., the process was completed.  I was told to go back the next morning to get my new IC.  In total it took 1 hour and 50 minutes.  To be fair to the department, there were more than the usual number of applicants as this is the school holiday period.  Lai Yoong told me that she and 3 of her friends had theirs done before the school holidays and it took about 20 minutes for them.

This is my old IC card.  See how young I was way back then.  I got my new card on Friday morning.  I reached the place at 10 a.m. and got my new card at 10.20 a.m.