Malacca NRD and Immigration Department open on Weekends

Ever since government offices and banks close on Saturdays, it has been difficult for the people to get errands run resulting in having to take time-off or leave to take care of errands. This move by the National Registration Department (NRD) and Immigration department to start operating on weekends in Malacca is a most welcome move for the people of Malacca. This is indeed a step forward for the people's convenience and to boost tourism.

The article from The Star follows:

NRD, Immigration departments in Malacca to operate on weekends

MALACCA: The National Registration Department (NRD) and Immigration department located at the state Home Affairs Ministry building here will start operating on weekends after the building's launch this Tuesday, said the ministry's secretary-general Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat.

He said once Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launches the building at 2.30pm, it would also kick off the instant passport and MyKad programme which would enable the public to get their passports or MyKad on the same day.

"All the departments under the ministry is housed in this mini Homes Affairs Ministry, which is the third in the country after Ipoh and Kuantan.

"At the moment, the NRD and Immigration would operate from morning to lunch time during the weekends but if the response is could, we could consider extending the operating hours," Aseh told a press conference here on Friday.

He said the move was to boost and back-up tourism, adding the building cost RM59.3mil and is built on a piece of 11.8ha of land in Ayer Keroh.