THERE is no need for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on the sale of MyKad to foreigners at this time as the police have been given full power to investigate the matter, said Deputy Home Minister Mohd Azis Jamman.

“In relation to the formation of an RCI to separately investigate the case, the ministry of the view that there is no need for it since the police have been empowered to investigate the case,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Azis, who is also Sepanggar MP, declined to reveal more information on the case as the investigation is ongoing and there have been a few individuals charged at the Penang High Court.

Police have arrested 20 individuals in connection to the case.

“The system at the NRD (National Registration Department) was inherited from the previous government.

“For now, let the police do their investigation. If there is a need for an RCI in the future, by all means we will look into it,” he said in response to an additional question by Abdul Muein (Jelebu-BN) on the status of those who have yet to be charged.

Azis said the ministry has taken immediate steps to improve the system at the NRD by updating its standard operating procedures.

This, among others, includes rotation of staff by limiting an officer’s tenure to two years to prevent abuse of power and creating a data bank and other biometric solutions that can be installed into the birth certificate. – October 9, 2019.