Guess how long it takes to get a brand-new MyKad?

The writer shows his ‘misplaced’ MyKad while holding his temporary identity paper. — Picture by Arif Kartono 

(MM) - I now realise how easy it is for foreigners to use MyKad belonging to another to get about their daily chores.

It takes only an hour for one to obtain a new MyKad — no questions asked.

The Malay Mail journalist K. Harinderan put the process to test and was in for a shock.

Despite being in possession of a MyKad, he was able to apply for another card without having to lodge a police report or filling any forms.

Harinderan visited the National Registration Department (NRD) branch in Rawang last Thursday on the pretext of applying for a new MyKad after having “misplaced” his old card.

The exercise was conducted following revelations in Parliament last week that more than half a million MyKad were reported missing between January 1 and October 31. That’s an average of almost 2,000 cards lost daily.

There have also been numerous reports of foreigners caught holding a MyKad.

Harinderan relates his experience:

I visited the NRD Rawang branch at 9.15am but was met with a large sign on the counter that read “system offline”.

I returned at 11.15am and saw a large crowd, with at least 40 people ahead of me. After getting my number, I chatted with several people.

Alice Wu, 24, said she misplaced her MyKad and was told by a NRD officer that she need not lodge a police report.

“This reduces the burden of me running around to replace my card,” said Wu.

Azli Rahim, 41, said he too lost his identity card and was surprised that it took him only one hour to get his temporary identification paper.

“I was in and out within an hour and was told to return in two weeks to collect my new MyKad,” said Azli.

It was my turn after 45 minutes. The officer asked me to place my thumbs on a scanner to verify my prints.

The officer then asked me how I had lost my card. I replied I had simply misplaced it and was not a victim of a snatch theft or robbery.

He then told me I had to pay RM210 since this was the second time I had lost my card.

For the record, I lost my identity card about two months ago after my car was broken into.

The officer then asked me to take my photo at the photo booth. A temporary identity paper was printed out and handed to me accompanied with a receipt.

I was told to return within 10 days to collect my new MyKad. I left the department at about 12.20pm, just in time for lunch.

I lodged a police report at the Rawang police station over this exercise the following day.

Since police do not carry MyKad readers at roadblocks and banks do not have links with NRD, I am able to go about my daily routine and carry out transactions with my “missing” MyKad.

And I now realise how easy it is for foreigners to use MyKad belonging to another to get about their daily chores.