Fake MyKad offences to fall under Sosma soon

PUTRAJAYA: Foreigners who possess aw fake identity card will face stiffer punishment when the offence is listed under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Also to face action under Sosma are those who produce fake identity cards, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

He said Malaysians who were involved in issuing fake identity cards have committed treason.

“Foreigners who own a fake identity card cannot be let off the hook with deportation.

“These are serious offences that must be dealt with severely which is why we want to include it under Sosma, ” he said after visiting the National Registration Department (NRD) headquarters yesterday.

Also present were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and NRD director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.

Hamzah said the process of including the two offences in the First Schedule of the Act does not require any amendment.

“The Home Minister has the power to make additions to the schedule. I intend to do this as soon as possible, ” he said.

According to records, the authorities carried out 37 operations between January and July 17 this year and arrested 35 foreigners for possessing fake identity cards.

Hamzah also said that the government was looking into the possibility of introducing a digital identification system for Malaysians.

He, however, did not elaborate on the matter.

Meanwhile, in Johor Baru, MOHD FARHAAN SHAH reported that the state Immigration Department is investigating whether any of its personnel are in cahoots with a syndicate selling fake documents.

This is because the syndicate’s mastermind has been found to be very familiar with the inner workings of the department’s computer system.

Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said the mastermind, a 38-year-old Indonesian, was arrested in a raid on Taman Senai Jaya on Saturday.

He said the man, known as Bagas, had a valid work permit and had been working as a construction worker in Malaysia for the past seven years.

“The man is very competent in computer technology and the department’s internal system.

“Based on intelligence, the syndicate is believed to be carrying out its activities during the recovery movement control order following the opening of various sectors which require foreign labour, ” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Baharuddin said three other Indonesians were also arrested in the raid.

“Two of them are customers while the other one is the mastermind’s 35-year-old wife.

“Checks on the premises found 15 Indonesian passports, including four which have expired, a laptop and a printer, ” he said.

The team also found fake Malaysia Immigration Department i-Cards as well as fake Covid-19 and SARS results from a private hospital.

“The syndicate charges between RM120 and RM250 for each fake document which is sought mostly by Indonesians, ” said Baharuddin.