ALOR STAR: Foreigners, including Americans, are studying Malaysia’s multi-functional MyKad to facilitate quick and secure identification, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said.

“Plans are also in the pipeline to apply a similar system in (war-torn) Iraq to control movement into certain security areas,” he said after opening the Kuala Kedah Umno meeting yesterday.

Mohd Radzi said many Malaysians did not realise that MyKad was undoubtedly the best identification card in the world.

He also said he was disappointed many Malaysians are not making use of the multi-purpose applications in MyKad.

”MyKad can be used for Touch and Go application to pay tolls, parking fees, bus fares and the KLIA Express commuter fare.

“We can also include the driving licence information in MyKad,” he said.

Mohd Radzi also said that no deadline has been set for the people to change their old identity card to MyKad.

The 330,000 people who have yet to change to MyKad are mostly elderly folks, mental patients and drug addicts in rehabilitation centres, he said.

He also said efforts are ongoing to help the handful of orang asli living in remote places to apply for MyKad.