Efficiency?

This morning, I dragged my sorry ass to file a police report, to apply for new IC as well as replacement for my driving license. I had searched high and low for them the past few days. Anyone would dread going to government offices, unless it’s necessary. You know, the red tape, the endless “minum teh” sessions till God-knows-when, bringing you around in circles, etc. Oh! The horror!

I filed police report on Wednesday right after work. I was told to come collect the certified copy of report (“salinan”) during office hours from 8 am to 4.30 pm. The officer, one Mr Gopal, reminded me that it’s a Friday, and they would break 2 hours for prayers. Yeah. I understood.

The notice board stated that we will need to ask for visiting pass whenever we enter the police station compound, but I told them, I don’t have IC or driving license with me. So, the nice policeman let me in without question. When I went to collect my “salinan”, I walked past 5 Indian boys squatting near the reporting area. I wonder what happened. They were neatly dressed. Probably taken in for doping while clubbing? I don’t know. I avoided eye contact with them. I went into a room to collect the “salinan”. I was a bit pissed that they didn’t issue me the “salinan” when I made the report on Wednesday evening itself. It’s just a chop with a signature on the report that I had with me, with a receipt for RM2 paid being a fee for the “salinan”. Why they cannot give me straight away on the day since they do not require any computer print out or any special approval or whatsoever? Hhhmph.

Within 5 minutes, I had collected my salinan and made my way to Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara in Selayang. When I reached the parking lot, I was glad that it was empty and there was nobody collecting the RM2 parking fees which they did before. I went inside and took a number 3032, now serving 3018. I waited for approximately 30 minutes, finished roughly 20 pages of “The Girl in the Picture” by Denise Chong and I am done! It’s quite efficient and the ladies at the counter were friendly. For first time loss of IC, you are to pay RM30 as penalty, second time – RM50, third time – RM70 and 4th time – RM100, so on and so forth. I don’t know how the arithmetics work, but if you lose your IC the forth time, I think you should be “buang negeri” lah.

I left JPN and made a stop at Projet petrol station to take a leak. Since my stomach was already protesting violently due to hunger, I made a 5 minutes’ drive through Mc Donald’s to get a strawberry milkshake but there was none. I ordered a Muffin McEgg on the go.

I reached JPJ, Wangsa Maju and was a bit confused with the arrangement of the building, with PUSPAKOM and JPJ adjacent to each other. Thinking it would be hell to go find a parking spot in JPJ, I saved time by parking outside of JPJ and paid RM3.

When I reached JPJ, I was swarmed by a group of men, offering their services to get things done for you. I waved them away and made enquiries at the enquiry counter. They didn’t give proper instructions. It took me a good 7 minutes running around in circles before I went to the back of JPJ, to the first floor, where application of renewal and replacement of driving license is situated.

When I got my waiting number, I was shocked that I got 292, now serving 68!!! I cursed at the thought of stopping to take a leak and having McDonald’s for breakfast, not to mention overshooting the junction toward JPN, JPJ.. and driving into Batu Caves where the road is still closed due to Thaipusam yesterday. I would have saved a good 40 minutes for all the blunders!

When I took a seat, I was relieved that the machine gave me wrong information. They were actually serving applicant numbered 229. Ah shit! Another 63 more people in front of me. I waited patiently and prayed hard that it didn’t exceed the office hour time before they break for Friday prayers at 11.45 a.m. It was 10.35 am when I gotten my number. I was glad that I got my new driving license by 11.00 am. I was quite impressed with the fast service.

Realizing that I could actually take time off from office, hence needless to apply for emergency leave, I decided to go back to office immediately.

I was pretty impressed that the government officers actually bucked up. I hope they continue to be like this and hope that my luck is not merely coincidental.

Important notes for people who lost their IC and driving license:

1. No matter how much you bitch, whine or grumble, your lost IC and license won’t come back to you. :p
2. You do not need to file a police report if you only lost your IC. But you need a certified report from the police for application of driving license.
3. File police report within working hours from 8 am to 4.30 pm. But a friend of mine told me that she got her salinan on the spot. I don’t know lah. there is no standardization one. You need the salinan for your driving license.
4. First penalty for loss of IC is RM30, followed by second time penalty – RM50, third – RM50, and forth time, RM100.
5. For application for replacement of loss of license, you need to fill up a form, a photocopy of your IC on A4 size (or temporary IC – you need to apply for IC first if you lose both IC and license), salinan sah polis and a license sized photograph.
6. For Class D license (car), you need to pay only RM20 for replacement. For both car and motorcycle license, it’s RM50.

General office hours for government offices.

Monday to Thursday: 7.15 am to 4.15 pm
Friday: 7.15 am to 11.45 am
2.30 pm to 4.15 pm

Hope this info helps.