Posted by Back in 2018, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) released a statement on their official Facebook account confirming that the only authorities allowed to inspect your IC are police officers, customs officers, Officers of the National Registration Department of Malaysia (JPN), authorised officers from the Director-General and members of the Armed Forces.
Commonly, security guards for private apartments would request visitors to give them their IC for registration. However, it is illegal and those who are found guilty can be jailed for up to three years, fined a maximum of RM20,000 or even both.
Here are the people who are authorised to view and store your IC:
1. Police Officers (PDRM)
Whenever you are stopped by a police officer, you are allowed to verify their police ID card. All the officers must show you their official cards if you ask for it.
If a police officer asks questions, you are obligated to give them your name, IC and address.
However, if they refuse to show you their police ID, you are not obligated to show them yours and you are advised to immediately lodge a report.
2. Custom Officers (JKDM)
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department is a Malaysian government agency responsible for administrating the nation’s indirect tax policy, border enforcement and narcotic offenses.
3. Officers of National Registration Department of Malaysia (JPN)
In 2007, a circular letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) addressed all security companies to stop keeping visitors’ IC cards or any identification document.
This has brought attention that many security guards would request and keep identification cards, passports or even driver’s licence of visitors. The members of the public were worried about a possible identity theft or falsification of documents.
4. Public officers authorised by the Director-General
According to Rule 7 of the National Registration Regulation 1990, it states that only officers authorised by the Director-General are allowed to request identification and conduct checks on the person’s IC.
“A registration officer, police officer, Customs officer or any member of the armed forces while on sentry or prowler duty and any other officer or class or description of public officer authorised in writing on behalf of the director-general may inspect the identity card of any person.”
5. Members of the Armed Forces (ATM)
Soldiers who are in charge of maintaining and protecting the country’s affairs are allowed to view and keep any identification documents.