‘Faulty’ MyKads leaves Sabahans wondering
By Thomas Pi, Free Malaysia Today
SANDAKAN: The reliability of the MyKad as an identification document has come under increasing scrutiny and criticism by citizens.
The microchip implanted identity card, touted as a sophisticated technology, has been found to be faulty and unreadable by security devices.
While increasing incidences of scams and bank fraud around the country has made the ID card indispensable at all bank transactions, verification services have been unreliable.
Most complaints being received are those of ‘unreadability’ by some machines, resulting in troublesome delays for many seeking banking services.
Prominent Lahad Datu businessman Tham Shao Tong is among its critics. He was among those who claimed to be a ‘victim of sophisticated technology.’
Recalling an incident, Tham said he had gone to the bank to withdraw RM150 using his bankbook but was told that his MyKad was faulty.
As such he was denied the money and told to go to National Registration Department (NRD) to check or replace his ID card.
He was told that his MyKad could not be read by the bank machine.
The bank also denied that its card reader was faulty as it could verify the details and information implanted in the chip on other MyKads without a hitch.
Helpless
In Kota Kinabalu, a journalist said he encountered the same problem and was denied service.
“I had to go to another branch and fortunately it worked.”
In Sandakan, bank officer Jaafar said the bank was helpless when such incidents happened.
“It happens quite often … customers blame us for not being able to get any banking services but we can’t do anything if their ID card cannot be read by our machine. This is not our fault, it’s the NRD’s fault,” he said.
