Calls are being made to ensure Malaysians are not cheated out of government aid like Sara. — Filepic
THERE are calls for tighter and stronger security features to block identity theft following recent incidents of MyKad misuse to claim government cash assistance.
“We need tighter security in every system linked to MyKad,” said Perak Barisan Nasional public service and complaints centre chief Mohd Rawi Abdullah.
Being a victim of MyKad misuse himself, Mohd Rawi urged the government to introduce stricter security features across all connected platforms, including MySara and Budi95.
He said this following the government’s decision to reimburse individuals whose MyKad was misused to fraudulently claim the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) cash assistance.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said that the government would not allow eligible recipients to be affected via technical issues or stolen identities.
He gave an assurance that the rights of the user would be ensured, after full investigation was conducted to identify the cause of the misuse.
Quality assurance technician R. Joseph Devan, 47, said thumbprint or facial verification should be required each time someone made a claim.
“This extra step might seem small, but it would make a big difference in protecting the rightful recipients and making it almost impossible for anyone else to misuse another person’s identity,” he said.
Joseph added that such a system could also help the authorities track unusual claim patterns and flag suspicious activity.
“For example, if someone tries to use the same MyKad in two different locations within a short time, the system should automatically block the transaction until it is verified,” he added.
He also said that while allowing claims on behalf of others was a good practice, authorities should restrict it to immediate family members such as parents, children or siblings, to prevent misuse from happening again.
Manager T. Joel, 44, suggested sending a one-time password (OTP) to the phone number linked to the claimant’s MyKad.
“If every claim triggers an OTP, it means the person must confirm the transaction in real-time.”
Joel believes this measure is simple, highly effective and would not impose undue burden on recipients.
“Most Malaysians are used to receiving OTPs for online payments or digital services.
“Applying the same system to government aid programmes would make it safer and more transparent,” he said.
