SHAH ALAM - More than 1.3 million replacement applications for lost identity cards were recorded by the National Registration Department (NRD) over the past five years, according to its director-general Badrul Hisham Alias.
He highlighted that 1,321,855 cases were recorded between 2020 and 2024, with the losses attributed to negligence, natural disasters and crime.
"The loss of identity cards creates opportunities for misuse by irresponsible individuals.
"These may include committing crimes or engaging in illegal activities under the original owner’s name, as well as forging supporting documents for purposes such as fraud or obtaining financial loans.
"The government also faces substantial costs in reprinting every identity card," he said.
He said fines were imposed on individuals who lost their identity cards due to negligence.
This, he said served as a penalty for failing to comply with Rule 6 of the National Registration Regulations 1990, which required cardholders to safeguard their identity cards.
He urged anyone who lost their card to lodge a police report to prevent misuse, especially in cases where the lost card could be exploited for criminal activities.
According to the NRD website, the fee to replace a lost MyKad is RM110 for the first time, RM310 for the second and RM1,010 for the third and subsequent losses.