Kuala lumpur: The National Registration Department (NRD) has successfully executed 1,633 MEKAR programmes by July 31, processing a total of 24,863 applications. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced the achievements, highlighting the department's efforts in managing identity card applications and providing 20,792 advisory services.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the MEKAR DIDIK initiative, focused on helping schoolchildren without identification documents, accomplished its goal by resolving 12,101 cases by June. Saifuddin credited former Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi, who identified the issue upon his transfer to the Education Ministry. During an event celebrating National Day and Malaysia Day, Saifuddin expressed satisfaction with the programme's success in assisting students identified by the Ministry of Education.

Saifuddin also discussed the MEKAR Diaspora programme, announcing that NRD officers will be deployed to Melbourne, Australia, from September 14 to 28, and to London from October 5 to 17. This initiative aims to support Malaysians abroad in obtaining identification documents without the need to return to Malaysia, thus reducing costs for citizens living overseas.

Additionally, Saifuddin mentioned improvements in two NRD regulations under the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB) programme. These include expediting late birth registration for children under five born at government health facilities from three months to 30 days and reducing the issuance period for extracts or copies of the Overseas Birth Registration Certificate (Form H) from 52 days to seven days.