'Burn uncollected MyKad within a week'

The authorities should burn any MyKad left uncollected, to force applicants to pick up the identification document within a week of being notified to do so.

"If they don't collect it within one week, just burn it," urged Ibrahim Ali (Ind-Pasir Mas) during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"The people always complain when there are issues with service, but when you provide services, they are (ungrateful)."

He had posed a supplementary question to the Home Ministry concerning the MyKad, which is issued by the National Registration Department (NRD).

Ibrahim also suggested that automatic notification be sent to the NRD whenever a police report is lodged about a death.

"Before you bury a body, you need a police report. When the report is lodged, why not link it directly to the NRD and Election Commission (EC)?"

This is to ensure the dead do not continue to populate the electoral roll, and that both the NRD and EC are able to update their records automatically.

Deputy Home Minister Lee Chee Leong said the ministry will consider implementing a direct link between police, EC and NRD, as suggested.

Mykad issuance

Earlier, replying M Manogaran (DAP-Telok Intan), Lee confirmed that - other than the blue MyKad for citizens and red MyPR for permanent residents - the NRD issues identity cards with expiry dates.

Called MyKas, these are for the use of temporary residents including those born in Malaysia but whose citizenship is yet to be determined, as well as for stateless persons.

As at June 19, 2012, the NRD had issued 40,117 MyKas, of which 1,313 were new smart card with security features. Depending on the type issued, these are valid from 12 months to five years.

The issue of identity cards with expiry dates was first raised on postings on Facebook which claimed that such documents had been issued to 'phantom voters'.