PBS: NRD must fast-track setting up of DNA database

KOTA KINABALU: The setting up of a DNA database by the National Registration Department (NRD) should be fast-tracked to ensure that only genuine citizens are registered for MyKad, said a Sabah Opposition party.

Parti Bersatu Sabah vice-president Datuk Johnny Mositun is also asking for the department in the state – where the registration process for citizens has allegedly been abused for decades – to be totally revamped.

“The problem of foreigners slipping into our citizenship rolls has been happening far too long and a total revamp of the state NRD may be needed,” he said, welcoming the move by the Home Ministry to introduce a DNA database to check on any abuse in the future.

Mositun said a revamp was necessary because, despite various steps taken over the years by the NRD to check against such leakages, the abuse continued to happen in the state.

“Sabah continues to see cases of NRD staff being arrested for involvement in helping applications for birth certificates and MyKad to ineligible foreigners,” he said, referring to the recent arrests in the state.

On Sept 12, two NRD staff based at the Semporna office were charged at the Special Corruption Court in Tawau for demanding RM2,000 from an applicant wanting to apply for a MyKad.

Mositun said the plan to introduce a DNA database should be fast-tracked as it was important to ensure that only genuine Malaysians were registered as citizens.

Such a DNA database, he added, would also be necessary for the Home Ministry’s proposed plan to issue Sabah Temporary Stay Pass to “inland foreigners” in the state from June next year.

The plan for the temporary pass is to register some estimated 600,000 migrants in the state currently holding refugee passes, census certificates or cards issued to them between the 1970s and 1990s.