What's in a Colour?

“Your picture may not be accepted by the authority,” the lady behind the counter at the National Registration Department (NRD) said.

HUH?

The NRD requires one’s hair colour to be natural for the application of MyKad - I was informed this morning when I finally decided to join the “intelligent” society. Apparently, my dyed hair was a tad too “blonde” for NRD’s taste.

I had to go to a hair saloon to dye my hair black - temporarily. I had told the NRD lady that the natural colour of my hair is dark brown – my dyed hair is just slightly lighter than my natural one.

Nope! Better dye it black so that the NRD will accept my application.

Besides applying for MyKad, I also needed to renew my passport. Yesterday, I took the necessary photos. Since the Immigration Department is in the vicinity of the NRD, I went there after I left the NRD. Surprised! My photos were accepted without any questions; dyed hair and all.

Throughout my whole life, I’ve never looked the same as the photos I’ve taken. When I went to the University, I nearly didn’t get my student card as the photo taken did not look like me and I had a hard time proving that I was who I was because even my IC photo was unlike me. And at this time, my hair was the natural colour.

I have a whole collection of photos (passport-sized, visa-type, vehicle-license or otherwise) and I look different in all of them; with dyed hair or not.

I’ve accepted the fact that looking like me in a photo is an unlikely event. Hmmm, wonder what the NRD will do when they found out?