(Adds PL statement)

The government has extended the validity of ID cards.

A notice published in the Government Gazette says that ID Cards issued after January 15, 2002 and which were meant to expire before the end of this year will continue to be considered as valid until the end of the year.

PL STATEMENT

The extension of the ID cards' validity for another year reflected the mediocrity of the country's administration, the Labour Party's spokesman for Home Affairs, Michael Falzon said.

In a statement he said ID cards wrere last renewed in 2002 and the situation could lead to abuse and could not continue to be tolerated.

The government was facilitating abuse and exposing its gross inefficiency. A serious government would be worried at the recent court case of a woman who had an ID card issued with her photo and details in someone else's name.

A serious government would have taken serious and concrete steps to assure the people that such situations would not be repeated. On the contrary, the government was again extending the validity of the expired cards.