Friday July 7, 2006
NRD warns of RM20,000 fine or three years' jail
By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY
PUTRAJAYA: Don’t leave home without your MyKad unless you are prepared to pay a fine of between RM3,000 and RM20,000 or worse, face up to three years in jail.
National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Mohamed has advised Malaysians to carry their MyKad at all times as required by law.
“Please do not blame us if you are caught because we are now giving everyone ample warning to carry their MyKad or identity cards,” he told The Star.
Abdul Halim said they had since last month, conducted checks at shopping complexes, roads and highways together with Rela, Road Transport Department and Immigration Department officials.
“Our officers found a few hundred people who did not carry the identity document. The main excuse given by people who did not carry the MyKad was that they had left it at home.
“Ignorance of the law is no defence. We are now warning people... carry your MyKad.”
Abdul Halim said the law would be strictly enforced.
The National Registration Act, he said, was clear on the fine that could be imposed under Section 25 (1).
“Carry your MyKad to avoid any problems. The NRD together with other government agencies will be carrying out spot checks on this as well as to weed out illegal immigrants.
“Apart from our enforcement officials, we will co-opt officials from other relevant authorities to assist in the nationwide operations.”
When contacted, Fomca secretary-general Mohd Sha’ani Abdullah said the reason some people did not carry their MyKad was because of the hassle they would have to undergo if they lost the card, especially due to snatch thefts.
“The hassle of reapplying for a Mykad is why people prefer to leave it at home,” he said.
“I don't think it's because of the contents of the MyKad, which has some personal information that scares people from carrying it around.”
Besides personal information, the MyKad also contain passport details and other applications like MEPS cash, and Touch 'n Go.
“We don't usually need to use our MyKad, so we don't carry it with us. For instance, when I need to leave my document when entering a building I would not give my MyKad or driving licence. Instead I hand over my staff card,” he added.
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