KUALA LUMPUR: The National Registration Department (NRD) will review and improve procedures in issuing birth certificates and identification cards to stop any misappropriation or abuse of power.
In a statement today, NRD reiterated that it would not compromise on the misconduct of staff involved in the issuance of fake documents.
“NRD will not protect any staff found involved in activities that will jeopardise national security and sovereignty.”
Earlier, a Penang NRD assistant director and another five men were slapped with a total 32 charges for various offences in connection with the illegal issuance and sale of MyKads to foreigners at two Sessions Courts in George Town.
The accused allegedly issued and sold fake birth certificates and MyKads to Chinese nationals and abetted in falsifying the documents.
All six were charged under Section 26E of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 while five were also charged under Section 466 of the Penal Code read together with Section 109 of the Penal Code and Regulation 25(1)(i) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 respectively.
The NRD said it has given full cooperation to the police to complete their investigations.
“An internal investigation is also ongoing to ensure such cases do not recur.
“The NRD will ensure the process of issuing the documents is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the National Registration Act 1959,” the statement said.
Police had arrested 20 people, aged between 32 and 70, on Aug 19, including the state NRD assistant director, who were part of the syndicate specialising in creating and selling fake identification documents.
Those arrested acted as agents, middlemen, sponsors and holders of the fake birth certificates, MyKads and passports.
Their activities were exposed in May when a female Chinese national was arrested by the Seberang Jaya immigration department after she attempted to apply for a Malaysian passport using an illegal MyKad in her name.
The woman was held after she was unable to speak a word of Bahasa Malaysia when quizzed by immigration officers.
She was later handed over to police for investigations and was charged in court for the offences two weeks later, where she pleaded guilty.