Change your identity, girl told

by Muguntan Vanar, The Star, Mon 10 Dec 2007
 

KOTA KINABALU: An officer of the National Registration Department that issued a MyKad belonging to a teenager from Sandakan to someone else has told the girl that she can make a "fresh application with a new identity to resolve the problem."

"It is an incredible suggestion," said 19-year-old Siti Rosita Mustapah, who claimed that she had applied for her MyKad at the Sandakan branch in 2005.

She said she had repeatedly checked on the status of her application since December 2005 but was told each time it was not ready yet.

"The Sandakan office advised me to check with the head office in Kota Kinabalu and on Wednesday, the head office told me that the card had been issued to someone else.

"I was then accused of being an imposter," she said, adding that she could not continue her education now or look for a job because she does not have a MyKad.

The student, whose parents and seven siblings are all Malaysians, is now living a nightmare as she is unable to further her studies in Computer Science and could be considered an illegal immigrant.

Siti Rosita and her uncle, retired policeman Zainuddin Wahab, went to the Sandakan office on Friday to sort out the problem and were shocked when the officer suggested that she could change her identity.

"Why should she change her identity when someone else is using her MyKad and her personal details?" he asked, adding that all his niece's examination certificates were in the name of Siti Rosita.

"He told us to let the person who purportedly hijacked her MyKad to use it and Siti Rosita could apply for a card under a new identity," Zainuddin claimed.

"How can she change her identity? It will definitely affect her studies as all school certificates are under Siti Rosita's name," he said, adding that the girl had studied in a primary and a secondary school in Sungai Manila near Sandakan town.

"I continually asked the officer why Siti Rosita needed to change her identity.

"I suggested that the department cancel the MyKad that was issued," said Zainuddin who accompanied his niece to lodge a police report against the officer.

"I am not blaming anyone. I am not pointing fingers but something is really wrong.

"I hope the Home Affairs Ministry will look into this case, which could be one of many," said Zainuddin.

National Registration Department officials were not available for comment.