Unclaimed MyKad: Call to find ways to solve woes

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SARIKEI: A local community leader, Pemanca Kiu Hua Dak felt that the National Registration Department (JPN) needs to look for better ways to solve the unclaimed MyKad problem.To penalise those who failed to collect their MyKad was not justifiable as the problem could be caused by weaknesses in the delivery system rather than totally due to negligence on the part of the applicants, he said.

In this respect, Kiu suggested that the department worked closely with the community leaders, adding that being very close to the grassroots, they could inform those who had official matters to settle at any government office.

He was responding to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop who had hinted that stern action would be taken against those who failed to collect their MyKad.

Kiu also suggested that the department prepared a list of MyKads or other documents which were waiting to be claimed by the applicants and distribute it to them.

“With the list we will go to the ground to inform those concerned to collect the documents and at the same time inform the department should there be applicants who have moved elsewhere.”

As stated by Abu Seman, a total of 18,496 MyKads and 3,266 MyKid cards issued within Sarawak have not been claimed.

A MyKad is considered unclaimed and will be destroyed if not collected within three years of it being issued.

An average of 15,000 cards is unclaimed in every state nationwide.

Based on the figures given by Abu Seman, the government is losing approximately RM7.56 million annually from identity cards that they may have to destroy.

JPN is currently studying possible actions on applicants who do not collect their cards.

“We’ll likely penalise them the next time they come around. This is to create awareness of what their actions are costing us,” he said.

At the same time, JPN has to study how it can encourage people to collect their MyKads on time.

“We have asked community leaders and tuai rumah to ask their charges to claim their MyKads, but the response has been poor,” Abu Seman added.

“I feel that this has to do with the attitude of society. If there is a need to use their MyKad, then they will come looking. If not, they don’t,” Abu Seman said.

He added that while studies were underway, the process of getting approval for the penalty on late collection would be a lengthy one.