The Home Ministry has been alerted to the alleged massive National Registration Department (NRD) data breach.
This comes following claims that four million data, belonging to Malaysians born from 1979-1998, were on sale for RM35,000.
When contacted, a Home Ministry spokesman confirmed the ministry was informed of the incident and that “a statement has been prepared and would be released soon.”
This was the second data breach involving a government department in just three months.
In June, Malaysians were shocked to see their names listed as People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) members, even though they had never signed up.
Rela is under the Home Ministry.
Several police reports were lodged following the incident, and the ministry ordered a probe into the alleged data breach. To date, however, there have not been any updates from the police, Rela, or the ministry, regarding the lapse in security.
The NRD has also come under fire in the Auditor General’s Report 2019 Series 2 that was released today.
According to the report, among the births recorded, 580 did not have specific details on how the babies obtained their citizenship.
Aside from that, the dates of birth and the initial six digits on the identification cards of 59,946 individuals, did not tally.
“The surveillance and maintenance of the citizenship data in the NRD’s system have been poor, resulting in approvals of citizenship that cannot be verified,” the report said.
It recommended that NRD upgrade its system to create an infrastructure that would support its digital environment in the registration and issuance of identification documents, and to store data safely, and with integrity.
Here are Twentytwo13’s news highlights today.
GOVT COFFERS WILL HAEMORRHAGE IF OLD MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ARE NOT REPLACED
The government would suffer losses if the Health Ministry continued to use old machines that required maintenance.
According to the Auditor General’s Report 2019 Series 2, the maintenance cost for such medical equipment had exceeded the cost of buying new products. Also, these old medical equipment were using outdated technology.
“Audits conducted from 2016 to 2020 found 50,452 medical equipment were 20 years old and above, while 29,654 medical equipment, categorised as beyond economic repair, were still being used in hospitals,” the report read.
It also noted that 1,373 equipment, procured at a cost of RM38.67 million, had been terminated from the Biomedical Engineering Maintenance Services programme – despite them not having reached the expected life cycle.
The Health Ministry was urged to provide a comprehensive policy relating to the management of medical equipment, including procurement of new equipment, replacement plans, maintenance, and disposal, to ensure effective management, and to give the government added value.
TUN M CAN STILL DRIVE WELL, SAYS TRANSPORT MINISTER
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said the ministry has not ordered for those aged above 70 to surrender their driving licences.
He told Dewan Rakyat today that driving competency was not based on an individual’s age.
“If you look at YB Langkawi (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad), he can drive very well … Far better than those who drive recklessly on the roads,” said the Ayer Hitam MP.
“So, there cannot be discrimination for those who are aged 70 and above.
“That is why I said it is not the ministry’s stand, and we have no intention of changing it,” Wee added.
11,332 NEW COVID-19 CASES TODAY
Malaysia recorded 11,332 new Covid-19 cases today. The country’s total number of cases now stands at 2,220,526.
Sarawak topped the daily list with 2,358 new infections, followed by Johor (1,319 cases), Selangor (1,231), and Kelantan (1,088).
13 NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING CENTRES CONVERTED TO SATELLITE PRISONS
The move to convert 13 National Service Training Programme centres into satellite prisons was to reduce congestion and stem Covid-19 infections.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Mohamed Said said the satellite prisons were to isolate new inmates before they were transferred to the main prisons.
He said these temporary prisons were gazetted under Section 3 of the Prisons Act, 1995 as admission prisons.
Data from the Prisons Department showed there were 69,507 inmates nationwide – beyond the capacity of prisons in Malaysia (61,242 inmates).
MALAYSIA’S EXPORTS UP 18.4PC TO RM95.6B IN AUG 2021
Malaysia’s exports continued to rise in August, increasing by 18.4 per cent year-on-year to RM95.6 billion, the Department of Statistics recorded.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the double-digit growth was supported by domestic exports and re-exports.
It was also the 12th consecutive month of year-to-year increase since September 2020.
