SUNGAI PETANI: The National Registration Department (NRD) has dispelled rumours circulating on social media last week regarding the issuance of identity cards (MyKad) to Hong Kong and Chinese nationals.
Its director Zamri Misman clarified that a substantial amount of inaccurate information had been spread, causing confusion among citizens.
"In fact, there are various forms of identification in Malaysia. Firstly, MyKad, as we have it, is for citizens. We also have Permanent Resident (PR) cards, which we refer to as red identity cards.
"Please don't misunderstand… sometimes what we issue is PR cards," he told reporters after NRD Day celebrations at Masjid Darul Murthada in Kampung Telok today.
Also present was Murthada Dakwah Centre (MADAD) managing director Mohammad Yaakub Yusra Mohd Yusof.
Zamri assured the public that the NRD would ensure the integrity of every identification document issued.
"We guarantee this because it involves the security documents of the nation, it is not a trivial matter. We take matters like this seriously," he added.
On Sept 23, the media reported a false message linking Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to the issuance of MyKad to foreign nationals, which went viral on social media.
The statement, attributed to Chow, circulated on TikTok, claimed that the issuance of identity cards to Chinese and Hong Kong nationals was the authority of the state government, and that the federal government had no right to interfere.
Chow, who is also the state committee chairman for Finance, Economic Development, Land, and Communications, took note of the message's dissemination and labelled it a recycling issue.