DNA testing to stop fake MyKads?

MP for Tawau Datuk Chua Soon Bui has called for the use of DNA testing under the DNA Act 2009 to prevent foreigners, especially illegal immigrants, from becoming citizens through dubious means.

Speaking in Parliament while debating on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Amendment) Act 2009, she said the deployment of DNA testing was important and urgent as it could effectively prevent illegal immigrants from applying to become citizens at the National Registration Department (NRD).

“The people of Sabah strongly doubt the anomalously large increase in the state’s population over the last 30 years. There is a strong possibility that many foreigners succeeded in becoming citizens of this country through dubious means sanctioned by the relevant authorities including the NRD. Therefore, it is time now to implement more security measures such as identification by means of DNA testing,” she said.

She was also convinced that if implemented, DNA testing could help resolve the issue of Sabah natives not being issued with birth certificates, MyKads and other legal documents.

“I therefore urge the Home Ministry to extend the scope of the DNAAct to also provide for the identification of one’s origin or family ties,” she urged.

She explained that it was rather difficult to identify family ties especially in the application of birth certificates for babies of bona-fide Malaysian women in the rural areas of Sabah.

“The matter was made worse by past incidents where foreigners used Malaysian women to obtain birth certificates in exchange for money. There were cases in Tawau where foreign women married to Malaysians obtained Malaysian citizenship. Subsequently, they apply for Malaysian citizenships for their children even though they are born and brought up in Indonesia, so they can follow their mothers to Tawau.

“Under these conditions, the NRD should be authorised to use DNAtesting to verify the family ties before processing the application. With more security measures such as DNA testing, it will prevent many dubious applications that exploit the loopholes in our National Registration System,” she said.

She continued that the implementation of the DNA testing could also protect the natives of Sabah who applied for late registration of their children’s birth, or when doubts arise in the application of Mykads due to incorrect information of one or two family members.

“The NRD could then use DNA testing to verify their family ties to facilitate the approval of their MyKad applications,” she said.

Chua noted that cases of native children not being issued with citizenship due to problems in obtaining birth certificates and identity cards were rather common.

“As a result, they are deprived of their rights as citizens, they cannot attend government schools nor secure jobs, while many foreigners get to enjoy all the privileges by becoming a citizen through dubious means.