MELAKA: There will be a six-month delay in the issuance of MyKid for newborns in the country following the global microchip shortage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, says National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.
He said, however, that parents could still submit new applications but would have to wait a little longer because NRD would process the application in stages.
“Parents can also use the birth certificate for the daily affairs of their child, who has yet to receive his MyKid, because it is a valid identification document issued by the government,” he told Bernama yesterday.
He also urged all government and private agencies to accept birth certificates for any business involving children, as it is the only document recognised for important matters such as applications for school admission.
Earlier, Ruslin presented a MyKad to a disabled child, Nur Aleeya Ammar, 12, through the department’s “Menyemai Kasih Rakyat” (Mekar) programme in Bukit Godek, Semabok Dalam, which was also attended by Melaka NRD director Norazle Sulaiman.
Commenting on the Mekar programme, he said the outreach for the issuance of identity documents such as MyKad and birth certificates for persons with disabilities, the elderly, bedridden patients, and residents in remote areas had seen a positive impact since its introduction in 2013.
“To date, we have processed 292,999 applications through 14,340 Mekar programmes nationwide, which is NRD’s proactive approach to ensuring that all residents enjoy the facilities offered by the government.
“In Melaka, a total of 78 programmes have been held and have benefited 212 applicants.”
Meanwhile, Nur Aleeya’s grandmother and guardian, Rohana Ariffin, 58, said she was grateful to the NRD for implementing Mekar, which made it easier for her to submit an application for MyKad.
She said the application process was done by the Melaka NRD Mekar Unit personnel, who came to their house on Nur Aleeya’s birthday on Jan 5. She received her MyKad within a week.