SIBU: The National Registration Department (NRD) approved some 41,000 MyKads last year but thus far about 7,000 have not been collected yet.Deputy Home Minister Jelaing Mersat said the NRD, which is under his ministry, had been working closely together with various agencies and community leaders to ensure that all the cards were delivered or collected.
NRD also had assistance from the police and People Vigilante Corps (Rela) in the rural areas to distribute this important document to those who had transportation problems in collecting them.
“The department has been given until December next year to finish the job of receiving all the applications for birth certificates as well as MyKad,” he said.
Jelaing said this to reporters after he attended a radio interview with RTM Sibu at its premises in Abang Haji Openg Road here yesterday.
He said so far 41,158 people in the state who had birth certificates still did not have MyKads, while those without both documents stood at 30,549.
Knowing the urgency and time frame given, he said NRD had increased its Mobile Registration Unit from one to seven units now.
The units are placed in Kuching, Sri Aman, Betong, Tatau, Miri and Limbang with their Miri and Limbang stations giving priority to the Penans.
He said completed MyKad which were not collected within three years would be returned to NRD headquarters for disposal.
“The problem (MyKad not collected) not only happens among the rural people, it also occurs among the urban population,” he said.
On the Sibu by-election, Jelaing said all preparations, including assistance from Bukit Aman, were already in place to ensure the election process run well, fair and safe.
A Technical Headquarters (Markas Teknikal – Martek) had been set up at the General Operation Force (GOF) Tenth Battalion camp in Lanang Road here.
“A total of 2,000 police personnel from outside Sibu will be deployed for the by-election. They will be sent in two batches, where the first batch will arrive in Sibu today (May 3).
“The second batch will arrive tomorrow (May 4),” he said.
The police and GOF will also be assisted by Rela and the Civil Defence Department, he said.
Jelaing reminded the contesting parties that they should get a permit from the police to organise political talks or gatherings during the campaigning period.
“They must get the clearance at least a week or in any un-avoided circumstances, a day or two before the event,” he said.
He also advised them not to touch on sensitive issues like religious and slanderous issues or using personal attacks when campaigning.
“The two candidates from contesting parties have been briefed by the police and the Election Commission on the Do’s and Don’ts during the election.
“They’re going to be briefed again after nomination day on May 8,” he said.