NRD denies Rohingya receiving MyKad amid social media claims

KUALA LUMPUR — The National Registration Department (NRD) has firmly rejected claims circulating on social media that Rohingya refugees are being issued MyKad identity documents, emphasising that the presence of non-citizens at its premises reflects routine administrative matters.

The department's statement comes amid widespread online speculation about Rohingya access to Malaysian identification, a sensitive topic given Malaysia's status as host to one of the world's largest refugee populations. The NRD clarified that non-citizens, including refugees and migrant workers, regularly visit its offices to handle legitimate administrative procedures unrelated to citizenship or identity card issuance.

Official identity cards in Malaysia are exclusively issued to citizens and permanent residents, with eligibility strictly governed by federal law. The department reiterated that all MyKad applications undergo rigorous verification processes to ensure compliance with citizenship requirements.

The clarification underscores ongoing tensions surrounding the refugee issue in Malaysia, where approximately 183,000 registered Rohingya live in camps and urban areas, along with hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants. The NRD's statement appears designed to address public concerns while maintaining transparency about the legitimate reasons non-citizens interact with the department.