THE National Registration Act 1959 (Act 78) will be amended to curb MyKad forgery, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said that the government is finalising the amendments which are scheduled to be tabled in the current parliamentary session.
“The amendments to the act will incorporate provisions for compoundable offences.
“These compoundable offences will be detailed and amended under the National Registration Regulations 1990 once the amendments to the National Registration Act 1959 are approved,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.
He was responding to a question from Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan), who asked whether the government has any plans to increase the penalties under the act and reveal the number of forgery cases to date.
Saifuddin Nasution said that data from the National Registration Department from 2022 to 2024 showed there were 778,500 cases involving the loss of MyKad due to negligence, 3,422,022 cases involving damage, and 138 cases involving document forgery.
“The government takes the issue of MyKad forgery seriously as it pertains to national security and sovereignty.
“The National Registration Department continuously collaborates with enforcement agencies such as the police, the Immigration Department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to combat forgery,” he added.
Currently, Regulation 25(1)(e) of the National Registration Regulations provides for imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both, for the offence of using a fake identification card.
