THE National Registration Department (JPN) is investigating the possible involvement of Malaysians suspected of renting out or handing over their MyKad to foreign workers following the arrest of 36 factory workers in Pasir Gudang, Johor.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the arrests under Ops Jejak 1.0 pointed out the need for continued and coordinated enforcement against the misuse of identity cards.
The operation, involving JPN, the Immigration Department and the Human Resources Ministry, also looked into whether the original cardholders had rented out or surrendered their MyKad to foreigners for employment purposes, he said.
Mohamad Shafizan Kepli (GPS-Batang Lupar) said some Malaysians were believed to have rented out their MyKad to foreign workers, mainly from Indonesia and the Philippines, for as little as RM100.
He said improved security features in the new-generation MyKad alone would not resolve cases where Malaysians willingly allowed foreigners to use their genuine identity cards.
Shamsul Anuar said JPN carried out 4,174 enforcement operations between 2022 and September this year, recording 1,868 arrests for identity document offences.
From 2020 to September this year, JPN recorded 577 prosecutions under Regulation 25(1)(e) of the National Registration Regulations 1990.
Of these, 449 involved fake identity cards, while 128 involved the use of another person’s identity card.
Those found guilty of offences involving identity cards can face a jail term of up to three years, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both.
Shamsul Anuar said individuals found possessing or using fake MyKad could be prosecuted under Regulation 25(1)(e), subject to the facts and evidence in each case.
Those who fail to produce their MyKad during an inspection may also face action under Regulation 25(1)(n) if the elements of the offence are met.
“Enforcement is not only about taking action after an offence has been committed. It also plays a role in the prevention and early detection of the misuse of identity documents,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Shamsul Anuar said the new-generation MyKad was introduced to replace the present card structure, which has been in use for more than 20 years.
The new card has 53 security features, compared with 23 on the existing MyKad. These include a dynamic security hologram, transparent window, ultraviolet features, microtext and laser engraving.
It also has an enforcement QR code to support verification and enforcement work.
Shamsul Anuar said the card used a chip with stronger encryption and a dual-interface function to provide more secure identity verification.
He added that the security features and chip technology were supported by JPN’s identity-verification procedures and controls over the issuance of MyKad.
The government also continued to prioritise the protection of MyKad holders’ personal data, he said, with information management, storage and access subject to security controls, operating procedures and relevant laws.
This includes a system for managing information security that complies with the ISO/IEC 27001 standard, he added.
