Procedures & Processes.

In the words of Anne Wilson Schaef,

"Life is a process. We are a process. The universe is a process."

Indeed, that was my case last Thursday and today.

I took a day off last week just to run so many errands i.e. to go to the morning market (pasar tani) to buy fresh goods to cook for the family last weekend, to renew my passport, my identification card and to take the HIV test. As you can see, all of the above involve procedures and processes - even to the extent of cooking. But let's skip the cooking part.

I remember 5 years ago mom and us (siblings) had to wait for hours to get our passports renewed at the Immigration. From one counter to the other and the long hours of waiting for the passports to be ready were part and parcel of passport makings or renewals. But now with the development of technology, passport renewals can be done in a jiffy. The procedures are as such:

1. Prepare a photocopy of your identification card, a passport sized photo (obviously) and bring along your old passport;
2. Go to the ground floor of Block I at Pusat Bandar Damansara (in my case since it was near to the house) and search for KIPPAS;
3. Go inside and take an "Urusan Seri Paduka Baginda"s envelope and fill in the details on the cover of the envelope; and
4. After which, head on to the kiosk (whatchamacallit) and follow the steps as stated on the screen which basically asks you to key in your personal data i.e. identification card number, handphone number for contacts, renewal of a 2 year (RM100) or 5 year passport (RM300), slot in your old passport and Mykad and bank in the stated amount piece by piece (it only accepts RM50 or RM100 notes);and
5. Once you're done keying in, it issues a receipt. Keep that receipt and come back with it to collect your new passport after 2 hours.
   

Yes, only two hours to process! Should you decide to pick it up on other days, the grace period is 3 months. But within that two hours, don't you think that we can benefit so much by sayyy,, reading a book at Starbucks nearby or running other errands like going to the bank etc, or going to BSC or Midvalley for a bit. How great is that?

In my case, I went to Kelana Jaya to meet my hantaran arrangement vendor and took the HIV test at Klinik Kesihatan Kelana Jaya. Betul, nak kahwin ni macam-macam procedures. Just in case some of you do not know, you must take the HIV test only at a government hospital or clinic. It's clearly stated in the procedures provided for by JAIS. Kalau tak tau JAIS tu apa I dunno what to say lah. Hehe.

To take the HIV test, you need:

1. To get the form from the counter;
2. Fill in the details and pass it back to them and take a number for your name to be called;
3. Once your name is called, you're registered, pay RM1 and wait for your turn to be called by the nurses at "Kaunter Pemeriksaan Darah";
4. "Zaznuriah..." the nurse called. Eh, termasuk cerita sikit. Haha. You know what it's like to talk to nurses behind the glass half faced and half empty right? Yes, that's how you get your blood tested. Place your hands on the counter, they'll do the necessary and poke (more like staple) your middle finger and take blood samples for it to process;
5. Wait at the red seats (atas arahan nurse only red seats - quite funny there haha) and the nurses at the other counter will give you the results.
   

Non-reactive, syukur Alhamdullilah. Obviously la kan, but hey, I was just giving myself the benefit of a doubt so gimme a break here. Lol.

Then back to Pusat Bandar to pick up the passport. Please go to counter 17 at Level 2 for collection as counter 17 is designated for passports done via kiosk.

Just next to KIPPAS, there's Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara's branch situated at the left end of the block. Since time was made available to us, we decided to also renew our identification cards. That too was done in a jiffy. Basically all you gotta do is to:

1. Take a number, wait for your number to be called and give them your previous identification card;
2. Place your left or right thumb on the thumb screen/scanner as instructed and get your picture taken;
3. Take the receipt and collect within two weeks from the day of renewal.

We can choose a preferred pick up point and since I'm in Putrajaya most of the time, I decided to pick them up here. Oh, in case you don't know, you must renew your identification cards once between the age of 18 and 25. If ever you renew your I/C after you turn 25, you'll have to pay a ticket (saman that is) of RM40 (kot). "Ignorantia juris non excusat" kan? (Ignorance of the law is no excuse :)) Then off to Pizza Hut with Hash for very late lunch.

And here I am today at the office, just got back from Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor to register our nikah. It was an eleventh hour decision to file it today since my brother was on leave. We thought, okay tak thought, tapi di-sound from my uncle to get things done pronto and not procrastinate. So I obeyed, we obeyed.

For those of you who are getting married, I'm sure MOST of you know what to do already right? So now I'm giving a chance to those who have (absolutely) no idea (maybe because they have no intention to get married yet and/or they couldn't be bothered to go JAIS's website etc) to benefit from this.

Procedures to get your nikah registered (Permohonan Kebenaran Berkahwin) are as follows:

1. Get the relevant forms from JAIS or its website and fill in the details. Remember to not pen down any signatures;
2. Prepare supporting documents which are relevant in your case and don't forget to CTC (Certified True Copy);
3. Bring these original and photostated copies of your documents and your wali and two of your chosen witnesses to meet the Penolong Pendaftar Nikah (PPN - they'll be identified by JAIS therefore check with JAIS as to who will be your PPN);
4. Once the PPN has signed the documents, take them to JAIS to the Ketua Pendaftar and get his approval (this time without your wali and witnesses unless your wali will be the one giving you away);
5. After the Ketua Pendaftar has signed and approved, send the forms to the counter for the staff to key in your data and get yourselves registered and pay RM20 for both parties.
6. And then.....tunggu jurunikah sampai rumah and kahwin okay? :))

Wow, that's a blogful load of Procedures & Processes I've laid down for you. Now I think I need some body and mind "processes" too. Perhaps a good sleep and full body massage will do? Capek dong!