JPN-Cracks Down on (IC) Identity Card Misuse, 52 Detained Including Foreign Worker

SHAH ALAM :A desperate attempt by a Filipino man to earn a living by borrowing his nephew’s Malaysian identity card ended in arrest on Tuesday, after authorities detained him during a large-scale enforcement operation at a factory in Kota Kemuning, Selangor.

The man, identified only as Fahad, 26, said he spent three days persuading his nephew from Sabah to lend him a MyKad so he could secure work at an iron factory. His plan collapsed when enforcement officers raided the premises under a joint operation led by Malaysia’s National Registration Department (JPN).

Fahad was among 52 foreign nationals detained during the operation, known as Ops Metal, which began at around 2.30 pm on February 3, 2026. The raid was carried out in cooperation with the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) as part of efforts to curb the misuse of identity documents.

According to Deputy Director-General (Operations) of JPN, Sarinah Apisah, all those arrested were men aged between 25 and 60, including nationals from Indonesia and the Philippines. Investigators found several individuals using fake identity cards or identity cards belonging to other people to gain employment.

JPN said all suspects will be investigated under Regulation 25(1)(e) of the National Registration Regulations 1990. If convicted, offenders face up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both.

In a statement, JPN stressed that the department will continue to take firm action against the abuse of personal identification documents, warning that such offences not only breach the law but also pose risks to national security and public order.

Authorities also urged the public to protect their identity documents and refrain from lending them to others, noting that public cooperation is crucial in preventing identity fraud and illegal employment practices.