"Smart Chip" not so smart after all

I went to collect my new IC from the National Registration Department (JPN) office in PJ New State yesterday. Well, the new IC was not because I've lost my old one. Here's the story why I needed a new one..

A couple of weeks back, Darren and I went to JPN to get a status clearance for our JPN.KC02 form (JPN.KC02 is required to be completed to register your marriage). Upon checking the system, we were informed that our current IC religion is Buddhist and not Christian as what we checked on the form.

We were then asked to proceed to 1st floor to get our IC updated on the religion status. As our IC is chip based now, I thought the process was pretty simple.

1) Complete the required form on the change of religion.
2) Proceed to counter and get the embedded chip in the IC updated via the system.

However, this is not the case. I was baffled that I need to change to a new IC and that the system is not able to update the chip just like that. Huh??!! You called it "Smart chip" and yet not able to get it updated on the spot or at least does not require me to change my IC (hopefully you understand what I am getting to).

We don't have much choice but to replace to a new one. We paid RM10 per person and proceed to take the IC photo. Thank God it was a weekday and there wasn't a big crowd.

So, our so called embedded "Smart chip" is not that smart after all huhh...