Dept hopes to resolve problems faced by Sarawakians in securing identity documents
KUCHING: The National Registration Department (NRD) will increase the number of Special Mobile Units next month to serve those in the interior areas of the state who are without valid identification documents.
Datuk Abu Bakar Mat
State NRD director Datuk Abu Bakar Mat said starting next month the units would start services in Sri Aman, Betong, Kapit and Bintulu, hoping to resolve problems faced by the people in securing identity documents.
He said there are currently six Special Mobile Units being deployed in Sri Aman, Bintulu, Kapit, Betong, Miri and areas around Kuching.
“Our task force will do their best to resolve the problem within two years,” he told reporters at his office here yesterday.
“It would take us one year to resolve cases pertaining to individuals with valid birth certificates but without a MyKad and the other year to resolve matters on eligible individuals without any valid identification document at all,” he added.
He assured that the department would do its best to identify the root of the problems and solve them with the assistance of the People’s Vigilante Corps (Rela), police, Information Department and the Immigration Department.
According to Abu Bakar, the department’s mobile units started in 2004, serving areas in Kuching and Miri.
He explained that the special mobile units with additional manpower were to complement the services in the office, to cater for those in rural areas.
“This year Sarawak NRD is extending our services through a taskforce in rural areas as directed by the Home Ministry,” he pointed out, adding that such services were vital, considering the geographical nature of Sarawak, its vast area and inaccessibility in most rural areas.
Abu Bakar also told reporters that it would take time to address the problem of people without proper documents in areas like Baram due to the lack of adequate infrastructure facilities.
To address the problem in Baram would be time consuming and incurring high costs, he added.
“With the help of the media, I hope people who are fully able to collect their MyKad would do so quickly.
“We understand that in certain cases like the Penans, who don’t have the means to collect their MyKad, we will come to them,” he said.
Abu Bakar said NRD is currently waiting for allocation from the government to buy four wheel drives to assist them in their operation in rural areas.
Currently NRD counters in Kuching operate seven days a week and counters in Miri are open six days a week while the department hoped to extend similar services to Sibu and Bintulu soon.
Also present were Sarawak NRD deputy director of operations Ahmad Khazali Mat Desa and deputy director of management Margaret Kuyor.