The Home Affairs Ministry is doing away with the provision for a minimum RM3,000 fine on those caught not carrying the MyKad.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the move follows the public outcry over the penalty, which also provides for a ceiling fine of RM20,000 or a three-year jail term.
In future, the fine on offenders would be determined by the court, he said.
However, he clarified that the maximum fine of RM20,000 would remain.
“Section 25 (1) (n) of the National Registration Department Regulation 1990 (Amended 2001) will be amended for this purpose, and the Minister has the power to make changes to the regulation,” he said yesterday.
“The procedure to do away with the minimum fine is simple and can be done in a short time. Once done, the court will decide the quantum of the fine to be paid by the offender.
”However, the message we want to drive home is that every citizen must be aware that it is his or her responsibility to carry the MyKad.
“In a situation where a person’s identity is to be verified, MyKad can be used as proof of who they are,” he said.
The decision to impose a minimum fine for offenders was made in 2001 by the then Home Affairs Minister.
National Registration Department director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Mohamed was recently quoted in The Star as saying that those caught without their MyKad could be fined between RM3,000 and RM20,000.
Mohd Radzi said the Government felt it was timely to remind the public to carry their MyKad due to problems related to illegal immigrants.
“If you don’t have your MyKad with you, it can be assumed that you are an illegal immigrant,” he warned.
“People may think that once we do away with the minimum fine, many will not carry their MyKad. You can still be fined by the court, only the amount is different. It can be a hefty fine, depending on the severity of the case.”
At the Parliament lobby, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho told newsmen that the ministry was studying ways to streamline the procedures of MyKad applications and replacement.
Tan had earlier received a memorandum from MCA Youth, urging the Government to reduce the penalty for those found without MyKad or who had lost the card.
Tan said the ministry was aware of the difficulties faced by Malaysians who needed to lodge multiple reports with the police and NRD upon losing their MyKad.
He said the Cabinet, which was meeting today, would discuss whether those who lost their MyKad could seek a replacement from the NRD without lodging a police report.
“The present procedures state that one can go to the NRD to replace a lost MyKad without having to file a police report. But the police have stated that a report must be made,” he added.
“We will discuss with the Internal Security Ministry on standardising the identity card replacement procedures.”
MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, who handed over the memorandum, said:
“We urge the authorities to reduce the high penalty for not having the MyKad and also simplify the MyKad replacement procedures.”
Liow said the NRD would have details of the cardholder in its database and replacing lost cards should not be difficult.
