Latest news with #MyKad
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Vigilant M'sians wising up to scams
OH, Malaysia – land of nasi lemak, humid weather, and unfortunately, con artists who work harder than a kopitiam aunty during breakfast rush. If you have not received a call from 'PosLaju', 'Maybank' or a serious-sounding 'officer' from Bukit Aman threatening to freeze your MyKad – are you even Malaysian? Let us begin with the infamous 'police call' scam. You answer a lucky number and you are knee-deep in drama. 'Salam sir, ini Inspector Roslan dari Bukit Aman. Nama kamu terlibat dalam kes melibatkan sindiket dadah dan 17 akaun palsu di Sabah.' (Salam, sir. This is Inspector Roslan from Bukit Aman. Your name has been linked to a drug syndicate and 17 fake accounts in Sabah.) One minute you are waiting in line for roti canai and the next, you are apparently a criminal mastermind. On top of that, the scammers will generously offer to 'help clear your name' – for a small, totally-not-fishy bank transfer to a third-party account, of course. Then there is the 'PosLaju' version. They call and tell you that your package has been seized because it contains something illegal, like drugs or fake credit cards, and somehow your name is in the middle of it. You are wondering: 'I only bought baju kurung from Shopee, how did this spiral into a global crime?' Not to be outdone, the 'Macau scam' (not named for where it originated but for how flashy it is) is the most upscale of all cons. They mix police impersonation with bank warnings and even go so far as to claim to be Bank Negara officials. These fellows work together better than a kenduri caterer, and their condescension? Olympic standards. They talk so fast and earnestly that you start questioning yourself if you did unintentionally start a money laundering operation in your sleep. Romance scams have also found a ground in our tropical paradise. Some isolated aunty thinks she has met her soulmate on Facebook – maybe a gruff, widowed army medic supposedly trapped in Syria or an oil rig worker in the South China Sea who, oddly enough, types like he is using Google Translate. Before you know it, she has sent RM20,000 for visa fees, emergency flights or 'life-saving surgery'. And all this without even a single Zoom date. And who can forget the classic 'scratch and win' scams of the early 2000s? Some overly enthusiastic guy at the mall hands you a scratch card that declares you've 'won a car' – but first, of course, you have to fork out RM5,000 in 'processing fees'. Malaysians were led to believe they could be cruising around in a brand new Toyota Vios soon, only to walk away with a pressure cooker and deep regret for existing. The internet age has not left us lagging too. WhatsApp scams are going strong globally and right here at home. 'Hi mummy, I've lost my number. Please transfer RM3,000 to this account – I lost my phone.' You are frantic. Your child is stranded! But wait – your child is five years old. Can barely write, let alone use online banking. And, praise be to God for the fearless scammers now boldly masquerading as Maybank. You get a text: 'Your Maybank2u account is locked. Click this link to verify.' The link, of course, looks like it came straight out of a phishing-themed action movie: Even the grammar gives up halfway through. But the real cherry on top? Scammers pretending to be officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, accusing you of graft. Imagine-lah – you, still bargaining over 20 sen at the pasar malam, somehow laundering millions. Seriously, it would almost be flattering... if it weren't such a facepalm moment. And Malaysians God bless us –we are a polite lot. Even when we are suspicious, we still listen. We politely respond with 'hmm' and 'oh really?' through the entire scam call because we do not want to be impolite. Then we hang up and immediately tell our cousin: 'I think I kena scam just now.' But it is not all bad news. The tide, my friends, is turning! Malaysians are no longer so easily swayed by a sob story from a mysterious 'Syrian general' or promises of a free car (which, let's be honest, would probably be a Proton Saga from 1992 anyway). There is a growing wave of public vigilance so strong you can almost hear the collective 'tsks' of disappointment from scammers nationwide. Recent reports from the National Scam Response Centre – bless their diligent hearts – read like the beginning of a superhero origin story. In just the first three months of 2024, they reportedly recovered over RM20 million. That is enough to buy a small island – or at the very least, a lifetime supply of kuih muih. This just goes to show that quick action and a good old-fashioned dose of Malaysian skepticism can make a difference. Even our beloved police are getting in on the act, sharing scam warnings on social media like gossip at a pasar malam. They are dropping knowledge bombs on new scam tactics faster than a mamak can whip up a roti canai banjir. As a result, aunty now wisely calls her children before transferring money. Uncle and this makcik no longer answer unknown numbers. And the cats? Even they are wise – no longer trusting the postman when he claims he is delivering a package of tuna – they know it is probably just another bill. It is a beautiful sight to behold. Thus, my dear Malaysians, remain vigilant. If anyone tells you that you owe the LHDN money or that there is a package addressed to you with meth inside, take a deep breath, brew yourself a cup of teh tarik and repeat the following: if it sounds daft, it probably is. And if you suddenly 'win' a Perodua Myvi for doing absolutely nothing, just chuckle, delete the message and go win a real one from a petrol station lucky draw like the rest of us. Scamlah... not today. Azura Abas is the associate editor of theSun. Comments: letters@
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
PD boy relieved to be finally recognised a Malaysian
PHIREN Singh can now focus on pursuing his tertiary education and his dream of becoming an engineer as he has finally earned the right to be called a Malaysian. The 17-year-old from Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan, who excelled in his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, received his MyKad after many years of applying. Phiren was raised by his grandmother after his foreign mother returned to her home country when he was a child and his father's death in 2018. He is relieved that his ordeal of being stateless is finally over. 'I am happy beyond words that I have finally received my MyKad, but I wish my dad was here to see this. 'I know the hardship my dad and I endured when I was a stateless person. I can now better plan my future,' he said after collecting his identity card from the National Registration Department (NRD) in Putrajaya. Phiren (right) with Rajasekaran after collecting his MyKad from the NRD in Putrajaya. Phiren, who was not eligible for basic things like free school textbooks and other aid given to Malaysians, said he planned to apply for scholarships or even a loan from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation to pursue his tertiary education. 'My 91-year-old grandmother, who is a retired teacher, has been providing for me ever since and I cannot burden her anymore. 'I want a career in engineering or in the automobile field, and will now be able to do so at local institutions of higher learning,' said Phiren, who has an older stepbrother and a younger sister, both of whom are Malaysians. Phiren said he had encountered countless problems growing up as a stateless person, from access to government healthcare facilities and participating in sports activities at the national level, to opening a bank account. 'I played tennis but was unable to represent Negri Sembilan at the national schools championships or MSSM due to my status. That was really painful,' he said. He thanked Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for looking into cases like his which had dragged on for years. 'My appreciation also goes to Sri Tanjung assemblyman Dr G. Rajasekaran who has been instrumental in helping me in the application process,' Phiren added.
Borneo Post
30-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Streamlined MyKad procedure a relief for Sarawakians without K-indicator
Fatimah visits the service counters. – Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad KUCHING (May 31): The process of registering for a MyKad with the K-indicator – signifying Sarawakian status – has now been simplified for newly-registered Malaysian citizens born in Sarawak, thanks to new conditions and streamlined procedures implemented by the National Registration Department (JPN). The improved process has already begun to benefit many Sarawakians, especially those who had previously faced hurdles in confirming their status. 'Now, the procedure is so much easier; they only require us to provide our current identification card (IC) and other supporting documents to prove we were born in Sarawak, and they will immediately replace it,' said Jerremy Chua, 41, who came to the Sarawak National Registration Department (JPN) office here to apply for the K-indicator. Jerremy Chua Chua, who was born in Sarawak but has lived in Johor Bahru for over two decades due to work, explained that his MyKad had been reissued in Johor without the K-indicator – something he hadn't noticed at the time. 'I was not aware of the benefits that come with having a Sarawakian status, so I didn't pay any mind to the missing K-indicator on my IC until the immigration officer questioned me about my nationality status. 'It was difficult to return to my hometown as I would only be granted a visitor's pass,' he said. He added that now, with the streamlined process, he can put his concerns to rest. 'I am married to a non-Sarawakian and we have a son born in Johor Bahru. Now that I am officially recognised as a Sarawakian, with the K-indicator on my MyKad, I can also apply for my son to obtain Sarawakian citizenship,' he said. Fatimah speaks to the visitors at JPN. – Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad Also at the JPN was Rayani Usman, 38, who expressed her happiness over the new implementation for Sarawakian IC registration. 'I came here to inquire about the procedure to apply for a MyKad with Sarawakian status for my daughter, as my family lives in Peninsular Malaysia. I feel at ease knowing that she is eligible to receive Sarawakian citizenship,' she said. Rayani, an Indonesian citizen, has been married to a Sarawakian for more than 10 years and is currently undergoing the process to apply for permanent residency. 'I am glad knowing that my citizenship won't hinder my child from acquiring Malaysian citizenship and Sarawakian status,' she added. Rayani Usman This initiative reflects the state government's commitment to resolving the issue of registered Malaysian citizens in Sarawak being denied the K-indicator on their MyKads, denoting them as Sarawakians and excluding them from all state initiatives. They were met following State Minister for Women, Children, and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah's official visit to the state JPN office here yesterday. Speaking to the media after her meeting with JPN officials, Fatimah said that following the state Cabinet approval on Sept 26, 2024, JPN Sarawak now has the authority to approve Sarawakian status for individuals born in the state. citizenship JPN K indicator MyKad
Borneo Post
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sarawak to become ageing state by 2028 amid citizenship application delays, says Fatimah
Fatimah visits the state NRD in Kuching. KUCHING (May 30): A total of 628 citizenship applications, out of the 1,567 received between 2018 and last year, are still being processed as of April 30 this year, said State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah. She said the applications were submitted under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution to the state National Registration Department (NRD). 'The Sarawak state-level Special Working Committee has also received 66 citizenship applications under the same Article from September 5 last year and February this year,' she said following a working visit to the NRD at Bangunan Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang here today. As of last month, Fatimah said the state NRD had received and approved 42 applications for the inclusion of the 'K' indicator in the MyKad for the children involved. Of these, 27 applications were processed in Sibu, 12 at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) Kuching, and one each in Mukah, Bintulu, and Miri. She added that the Special Task Force, meant to address citizenship issues, received 5,243 applications across Sarawak in 2023. Of those, 2,602 were approved for the issuance of identity documents, she disclosed. 'The task force's Technical Committee, which convened on May 15 this year, also approved 3,885 out of 7,981 applications received in 2024. However, out of the total 13,224 applications received overall, she said 6,737 were rejected for various reasons such as having foreign documents, lack of proof of birth in Malaysia, lack of certification by community leaders, and incomplete supporting documents. On the Endowment Fund Sarawak (EFS), Fatimah highlighted concerns on Sarawak's declining birth rate and a shift in gender ratio. 'Based on the statistics we have, Sarawak recorded more baby boys than baby girls. As this trend continues, our boys may grow up facing a limited choice of girls as future spouses,' she remarked. She said not only is Sarawak experiencing fewer births in recent years, but life expectancy is rising. 'Sarawak's life expectancy is in the 70s, which is relatively high, though still below Singapore's 80 years,' she noted. With life expectancy increasing and birth rates slowing, Sarawak is expected to become an ageing state by 2028, she pointed out. 'We must prepare for this. What are the needs, the support systems, and the challenges faced by senior citizens? These are the questions we must address,' she said, stressing the need for early preparations to ensure senior citizens can live with dignity and enjoy a good quality life. Statistics from her ministry showed there were 9,381 births as of April this year. In comparison, 30,235 births were recorded in 2024, with 33,743 births in 2023, 32,740 births (2022), 28,261 births (2021), 33,964 births (2020), and 36,117 births (2019). ageing state citizenship applications fatimah abdullah lead
New Straits Times
29-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Body of man, believed to have drowned, found in Sungai Pahang
MARAN: The body of a 58-year-old man, believed to have drowned, was found in Sungai Pahang near Kampung Paya Pasir, Pekan Awah, yesterday. Maran police chief Superintendent Wong Kim Wai said villagers alerted the police after spotting a body floating in the river at around 1.30pm. "The fully clothed body was seen floating face down in the water. It was found near a sand mining site, at a depth of 20m and about 30m from the riverbank. "The body was trapped among some debris and logs drifting in the river. Firemen helped retrieve the remains, and police later found the victim's wallet and MyKad in the pocket of his trousers," he said in a statement today. Wong said the body was sent to Jengka Hospital for a post-mortem, which confirmed that the cause of death was drowning. He said the victim's children had identified the body at the hospital, and police are gathering further information about the incident. Meanwhile, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Zulfadli Zakaria said six firemen from the Maran fire station were deployed to assist police in recovering the body. "The sandy terrain along the riverbank made it difficult for firemen to launch the aluminium boat into the water. However, they managed to reach the body and bring it to the riverbank," he said.
