PUTRAJAYA: More than 55,000 children who are 12-years-old have yet to apply for Mykad of June 19, 2013.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi the main contributing factor for the high number of such cases was due to careless attitude of parents, financial, those living in rural areas and remote interiors.
Heading the list with the highest number of 12 to 16-year-olds without a MyKad is Sabah (8,259 cases), followed by Johor (6,153) and Selangor (4,804).
“These children could be late in applying for their MyKad due to various reasons, but I feel (it is largely due to) the parents who have taken this matter lightly.
“As at June 19, there are as many as 55,537 children who have reached the age of 12 but yet to apply for a MyKad,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters after breaking fast with National Registration Department (NRD) staff.
NRD will use its mobile units after the Hari Raya holidays to register Mykad for 12-year-olds who have yet to obtain their first identification card.
The awareness campaign, codenamed My12, will be carried out alongside the My18 programme, targeted at 18 to 25-year-olds who have not applied to change their MyKad.
Those in the second group are required to apply for a new MyKad under the National Registration Regulations 1990 (2007 Amendments) due to changes in their physical outlook.
The My12 and My18 programmes will also see awareness talks being carried out in schools, higher learning institutions, and factories.