FOREIGN DIPLOMATS TO GET NEW IDENTITY CARDS

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The new identity card for foreign diplomats
launched Thursday will help facilitate their service here, Foreign Minister
Anifah Aman said.

He said the new card was an improvement on the I-Kad system used by the
Immigration Department as it came equipped with microchip containing the holders
personal data.

"All information in the card can be verified by calling the control centre
or by sending SMS.

"The information data is kept by the Foreign Ministry and the Immigration
Department", he said at the card's launch at the ministry here Thursday.

His text of speech was read out by his deputy Lee Chee Leong.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Protocol Department said foreign diplomats
would have to return their old identity cards in exchange for new ones.

The Immigration Department would take one week to issue the new cards.

"When the new cards are ready, they will have to hand in the old ones which
will be destroyed.

"They can continue to use the old cards until the new ones are ready," he
said.

All foreign diplomats would be asked to fill special forms to apply for the
new identity cards.
--BERNAMA