Nice to meet you: Saifuddin Nasution (left) having a light moment with Kampung Sungai Seluang resident Mohd Arif Abdul Rahman, 66, during his visit to Kulim, Kedah. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
KULIM: Comprehensive investigations involving multiple agencies are underway to probe the use of counterfeit MyKad and the misuse of genuine ones for employment purposes, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail
The Home Minister said the move comes following a recent joint enforcement operation at an electronics factory in Telok Panglima Garang, which uncovered such cases.
The probe, he said, will cover the entire ecosystem involving the employment of foreign workers coming into the country.
“We first applied all available legal protocols and mobilised all relevant agencies.
“Next, we will examine the entire ecosystem that supported this activity, from the agents used by companies to supply workers, to recruitment methods and how documentation was managed once the workers were here,” he told reporters after handing over project approvals to 35 contractors involved in the Projek Mesra Rakyat in Kulim and Bandar Baharu yesterday.
During the recent joint enforcement operation on Wednesday, officers from the National Registration Department (NRD), Immigration Department and Labour Department discovered that some foreign nationals were using counterfeit MyKad, which they claimed to have bought for RM300 each.
The operation, codenamed Ops Vape, targeted identity document forgery, particularly MyKad, and the misuse of other people’s identity cards for employment purposes.
Saifuddin Nasution said the priority was identifying the source of the counterfeit MyKad.
He said it was not difficult for NRD officers to detect the use of fake MyKad during the operations, with the help of their database.
“Our investigation focuses on where the documents were obtained, who made the initial contact and other related matters.
“Our officers are still pursuing these leads, as it is only the third day of investigations,” he said.
He said the incident is being treated seriously to prevent the leakage of public funds to those not entitled under targeted subsidy programmes, which are meant for Malaysians.
Saifuddin Nasution will chair a meeting at the end of this month and raise the matter with the Human Resources Ministry regarding the use of fake MyKad or the misuse of genuine ones by employers and agents.
On a separate issue, he welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s directive to temporarily shelve procurement decisions by the armed forces and the police linked to corruption issues.
He added that he will consult the Home Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman to determine appropriate actions in line with the Prime Minister’s directive.
On Friday, Anwar said the government, through the relevant ministries, will review and restructure all procurement processes to ensure transparency in the existing system.
