KOTA KINABALU: The proposal for all original residents of Sabah to re-register their MyKad, managed directly by the state government, is worth considering.
President pro rem of the Sabah Media Social Association, Gundohing Musli Oli, sees several advantages if the proposal becomes a reality.
According to him, the re-registration of MyKad will lead to an improvement in data accuracy.
“By re-registering MyKad, the state government can ensure that the residents’ data is accurate and valid.
“This can reduce issues related to fake or invalid documents,” he told the Jesselton Times.
Musli commented on the idea mooted by former Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
Previously, Salleh had suggested that all native Sabah residents re-register their MyKad to address various documentation issues, including bird documents.
He said it would be better if the entire registration process were handled by the Sabah government.
Musli said that if the re-registration process is managed by the state government, it can ensure more efficient management and responsiveness to the needs of the people of Sabah.
“The situation would be different if it were managed by the Federation, which has less understanding of the nitty-gritty of the identity of the people of Sabah,” he said.
Musli said it would also pave the way for a more transparent and fair process, especially if it involves all stakeholders, including indigenous people and local authorities.
“This proposal will also bring many positive effects, including increased public confidence because the population data is valid and accurate, the people of Sabah may have greater trust in the state government, reduction of political manipulation, and improvement in public order security,” he said.
However, Musli, who is also an author, said there are several constraints and obstacles that need to be taken into account.
“Among them are costs and financing, logistics and infrastructure, and most importantly, the possibility of political obstacles from certain parties who may disagree or want to manipulate this proposal,” he said.
“In general, Salleh’s proposal is a potential step to resolve the tricky documentation issue.
“However, its implementation requires meticulous planning, adequate financing, and the involvement of all stakeholders,” he said.
