[color=#666666]The Star, Friday February 16, 2007
BY MAZWIN NIK ANIS[/color]

PUTRAJAYA: Former Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said his successor was right in scrapping the raffle draws that he instituted to encourage Malaysians to change their identity card to the MyKad.

He said he agreed with the decision made by Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who has taken charge of the ministry.

Azmi, who is now Natural Resources and Environment Minister, said when he was transferred to the new ministry he forgot to inform Radzi about the draws.

“I believe the (Home Affairs) ministry officials had also forgotten about the issue,” he said in the 60 Minit Bersama Mentri programme over RTM1 on Wednesday night.

A day earlier, Radzi had lashed out at the idea of dangling a carrot to get people to change to the MyKad, describing the move was “silly and rubbish.”

Among the prizes offered in the Jom Tukar dan Menang deal, started 18 months ago, was a Perodua MyVi, a Suzuki scooter and electrical items.

Azmi, who moved out from Home Affairs in February last year, said he came out with the idea because there were, at that time, more than two million Malaysians who had not changed their identification card.

“By the end of 2005, we managed to reduce the number to 500,000,” he said, adding that the bigger issue at that time concerned the deadline to change to MyKad and the fine that would be imposed after Dec 31, 2005.

“The public then came in droves and packed the National Registration Department offices.”

However, he added, when it was announced that the fine was only RM10, many people then criticised the lucky draw and said they had wasted their time rushing to make the MyKad.

“I told the department to hold on to the lucky draw but in February last year, I was transferred to another ministry,” said Azmi.

He and Radzi had since discussed the issue and agreed that it was an old matter and should be put to rest.

The prizes could be donated to orphanages and welfare homes, he added.

When contacted, Radzi said he had received positive response from the public on his decision.

“I am not trying to be popular. It is okay if I am a victim of public criticism. I feel I did the right thing,” he said, stressing that the public must know their responsibility.

He said he and Azmi would “remain good friends despite the issue.”

source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/16/nation/16898863&sec=nation