Why is it so hard to find Riker. Malcosians as shown are internally different. Why was data not searching hospitals or monitoring planet communications. When they are told where he is they beam Dr. Crusher to the exact spot. Which was done scanning for human life signs.
Both Yale and Picard could have beamed directly to the privacy of Chancellor Durken's office instead of presenting themselves to his secretary at the hall, causing shock and panic to the secretary and any witnessing staff at Picard's presence, thus ruining the plans for first contact.
Malcorian hands have a finger configuration which is ill-equipped to handle the doorknobs, telephones, and other crucial handheld appliances in their own city.
Picard made first contact with Mirasta so she would help him locate and rescue Riker. Picard could have given Mirasta a combadge/tracker device that she could have activated as soon as she found Riker at the medical facility.
If the Federation has been observing the Malcorians for some time, including with field agents on the planet for several years, then why does it come as such a surprise and concern that the Malcorians consider themselves supreme beings at the center of the universe?
On the bridge, when Capt. Picard introduces the chancellor and Mirasta Yale to Data, he introduces the latter as "Marista Yale." Moments later, when Minister Yale excuses herself to return to the planet, the chancellor warns her, "Not a word of this to anyone, Mirasta."