BINTULU: The state and federal governments must work together to enable everyone to own legal identification documents by 2011.Deputy Home Minister Jelaing Mersat said this meant that the relevant government departments and agencies, and community leaders need to device a system whereby they could operate to complement one another.
He said for rural folk the most relevant authority capable of ensuring that no one would be left out of the exercise would be community leaders like the pemanca, penghulu and tuai rumah.
“These grassroots leaders will know the members of their communities who are in need of personal documents and they can certify if applicants are genuine or not.
“In other words, much of the success of the exercise will depend a lot on community leaders working closely with the government agencies,” Jelaing said when officiating at the official launch of Belaga Unit Khas Bergerak (UKB) and presentation of MyKad and birth certificates at Sungai Asap multi-purpose hall in Belaga yesterday.
Jelaing reminded the community leaders to be honest when verifying application because if they were not, it not only would hamper progress of the exercise but could also jeopardise national security.
On the effectiveness of the UKB, he said the government hope that it could facilitate reaching and locating people without legal identification documents.
Also present at the ceremony were NRD director general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim, State NRD director Datuk Abu Bakar Mat, Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo and Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang.
According to Jelaing, the ministry has established five UKBs — one each in Miri, Bintulu, Kapit, Betong and Sri Aman — in order to reach out to far flung areas of the state.
According to him, all the units will be given the latest technology of mobile set for their operations including four-wheel drive vehicles.
He said NRD’s role now is to get people registered, issued with the documents and then try their best to go back to the villages in three months’ time to hand the documents to successful applicants.
“We want to reduce the number of unclaimed MyKads especially among members of remote communities,” Jelaing said.
Alwi, meanwhile said, those living near towns were encouraged to pick up their MyKads and not wait for the department to visit them at their homes.