AYER KEROH, Oct 9 — Growing parental awareness of 12-year-olds’ need for MyKad is the biggest contributor to the rise in identity card applications, said National Registration Department (JPN) deputy director-general (management) Faizah Jaarudin.
She said 366,526 first-time MyKad applications were submitted from January to September, compared with 349,520 applications in the same period last year.
“Our young citizens aged 12 are now obtaining or applying for their MyKad,” she told reporters after attending the closing and prize giving ceremony for the finals of Pidato JPN 2024 at the Home Ministry complex auditorium here today.
She added that improved counter operating hours at the JPN also significantly contributed to the increase in MyKad applications, particularly at Urban Transformation Centres (UTCs), which are available in every state.
“Many parents are now taking the opportunity to submit their applications at the JPN counters at the UTC, which are also open on weekends until 5pm, rather than waiting for the school holidays to submit.
“In addition, outreach activities such as mobile counters through the Mekar programme have greatly helped parents apply for the MyKad, especially in rural or remote areas, where sometimes we can print the MyKad within 30 minutes of the application being submitted,” she said.
Faizah also said MyKad replacement applications have been increasing, with 224,243 applications this year from January to September, compared with 217,899 in the same period last year.
She added that 30 per cent of MyKid have yet to be claimed by parents.
“Thankfully, we have received the necessary supplies and applications have been running smoothly since operations resumed on July 29, but 30 per cent of MyKid remain uncollected.
“We urge parents to check the status of their MyKid applications through the JPN portal and claim them as soon as possible,” she said.
— Bernama
