Why fake MyKad syndicates thrive

An economist blames the government's failure to control the entry of foreign workers.

PETALING JAYA: The government’s failure to control the entry of foreign workers has encouraged the growth of counterfeit MyKad syndicates, according to an economist.

Yeah Kim Leng, a professor at Sunway University Business School, told FMT the issuers of fake identity cards had taken advantage of the willingness of foreign workers to pay for them.

The Star yesterday reported that a fake MyKad and citizenship scam had been thriving in the mode of a multi-level marketing system in Malaysia.

It quoted a former agent of a syndicate as saying that forged MyKads and citizenship papers were sold to foreigners for prices ranging from RM4,500 to RM10,000.

The former agent also said the mastermind of the network had an array of agents spanning across the country.

Yeah also called for better recognition of blue collar jobs so that more Malaysians would be attracted to them.

He said such jobs were dominated by foreigners because Malaysians found them uninteresting and unglamorous.

“The government should heighten the status of labour and skills jobs in Malaysia,” he said.

He also said most young Malaysians preferred to take up international job offers due to their more interesting working environments, better productivity and salary offers.

“They prefer to work as factory-line workers, technicians, chefs, waitresses and other such occupations in other countries such as Singapore and Australia where they offer better opportunities,” he added.

Yeah also said the increase in the minimum wage would put many small and medium-scale enterprises out of business.

Some businesses were already affected, leading to a slight rise in unemployment in the country, he said.

The minimum wage is now set at RM1,000 per month or RM4.81 per hour in Peninsular Malaysia and RM920 per month or RM4.42 per hour in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan. -FMT