FAST SERVICE: Wira (back left) together with Wahab (centre) and Abu Bakar (far right) visiting a counter at JPN Sarawak.
KUCHING: The National Registration Department (JPN) is considering the possibility of imposing a fine on people who collect their MyKad late.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said that around 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.
“We are concerned over the fact that a number of applicants don’t come and collect their MyKads,” said Wira during a press conference after his visit to JPN Sarawak yesterday.
“An average of 15,000 cards is unclaimed in every state nationwide,” he said, adding, “This is costing the government money.”
Based on the figure given by Wira, the government is losing approximately RM7,560,000 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 on 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,” Wira 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,” Wira said.
He added that while studies are underway, the process of getting approval for the penalty on late collection will be a lengthy one.
Wira was on a visit – his first as Home Minister – to brief the department on the objectives and strategies of JPN Sarawak for this year.
Also present at the press conference were JPN Sarawak director Datu Abu Bakar Mat, deputy directorWahab Mohd Yasin, and deputy operations director Ahmad Khazali Mat Desa.