Explained - 'MyKad' with expiry date

The image of a 'MyKad' bearing the words 'pemastautin sementara'and assigned an expiry date has gone viral on the Internet since a Facebook posting appeared last week.

Purportedly issued to a Burmese national, this has raised questions as to whether foreigners have been given citizenship and whether the corresponding voting rights could be used to rig the next general election.

A check with the Election Commission online database confirmed that the purported MyKad holder is not a registered voter.

The National Registration Department (NRD) clarified today that the 'MyKad' is the old version of the temporary resident card that it had issued from 2001.

"(At that) time, the government (did) not have different types of cards for citizens, permanent residents and temporary residents,” the NRD said in a statement issued to Malaysiakini this morning.

"The only way to differentiate them was (by printing) four red square boxes in front of the card for permanent residents, with the words 'Pemastautin Tetap' and five green triangles for temporary residents with the words 'Pemastatutin Sementara' (and) the expiry date.”

The department explained that, in 2006, it introduced a new Permanent Resident card which is red in colour. Called MyPR, it bears the words'Pemastautin Tetap'.

At the back are details of the entry permit number/country of origin, or birth certificate number for those born locally.

In 2009, the department introduced a green-coloured card for Temporary Residents. Called MyKAS, it carries the words 'Pemastautin Sementara' and retains the expiry date.

"MyKAS are issued to a person born in Malaysia but whose citizenship status cannot be determined. Both MyPR and MyKAS holders are not considered as holding Malaysian citizenship," the department added.