Missing MyKad leads to forgery syndicate bust

Tools of the illegal trade: Counterfeit-producing equipment along with the fake MyKad and fake birth certificates from the syndicate being displayed during the press conference in Putrajaya. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

PUTRAJAYA: When a lost MyKad was discovered to have been used, the National Registration Department (NRD) uncovered a counterfeit identity card syndicate producing forged MyKads, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He explained that the indivi­dual had lost his MyKad 12 years ago. The man subsequently claimed on social media that someone had used his MyKad details to buy a smartphone in Cheras on Dec 11 last year, resulting in a financial loss exceeding RM14,000.

“The MyKad was allegedly used by the perpetrator to purchase a mobile phone in Cheras on Dec 11, 2024,” Saifuddin Nasution said during a media conference at the NRD headquarters.

“The complainant had previously lost his identification card in 2013, and it was later discovered that the lost card had been misused by irresponsible indivi­duals.”

Saifuddin Nasution said an arrest was made last Friday at a house in Kampung Pandan Dalam in Kuala Lumpur, which later led to a 35-year-old Malaysian man being charged and found guilty of using a fake identification card and possessing a counterfeit MyKad.

The man was sentenced to four months’ jail from the date of his arrest.

He added that following the initial arrest, NRD officials raided a residential unit in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur, where they uncovered a counterfeit MyKad printing operation.

A 31-year-old man, identified as a holder of a Temporary Resident Identity Card (MyKas) and husband of a Malaysian citizen, was detained.

Saifuddin Nasution said authorities found tools used for producing counterfeit MyKad, along with a number of forged MyKad of other individuals in the raid.

During the media conference, the minister showed items seized from the raid, which included a laptop, printer, laminating machine, computer hard disk and other tools.

Six MyKad were found, of which two belonged to other people, while four were fake.

He said the second suspect was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday under Regulation 25(1)(e) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amendment 2007) for possession of a counterfeit MyKad and other individuals’ identity cards.

He was sentenced to 10 months’ jail and fined RM3,000, he added.