With reference to the article, Tawau villagers cry foul over MyKad , the National Registration Department (NRD) would like to clarify issues regarding Mobile Registration in Tawau, Sabah.

Investigations were conducted based on the allegations. It was found that there were 33 NRD officers involved in the mobile operations on Aug 10-12, from 9am to 5pm at Felda Tengah 1 Hall, Kalabakan.

The NRD officers stayed at a hotel in Tawau City, not at the Felda Scheme Rest House as claimed.

The NRD Mobile Team was formed to register late registration of births and identity cards as part of the department's outreach programme and also requests from community leaders.

It was a joint operation with the mobile court, Royal Malaysian Police (Special Branch & Tawau IPD officers), Immigration Department (JIM), Sabah Election Commission, Tawau District Office and the Tawau Branch Rela to assist NRD in the operations.

For your information, on Aug 10, representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the director of birth, death and adoption division, NRD Putrajaya joined in the operations.

On the second day, the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission monitored the registration activities.

The NRD mobile team registered 44 cases for Mykads, 14 cases of late registration of identity cards, and 370 late registration of births, where 242 were approved while 128 were rejected.

All births in Malaysia must be registered regardless of their parent's nationality or citizenship; therefore not all birth registrations are accorded citizenship status automatically.

A person's citizenship status is determined by their parents' status during birth.

The NRD would also like to stress that the registration activities conducted during the operation were in accordance with the law and procedures.

Only those who met the requirements, based on the name-list submitted earlier by the community leader to NRD was accepted.

It is impossible for any individuals or parties to come up with an application during the field operation if their names were not listed.

Therefore allegations stating the NRD had registered illegal immigrants for Mykads are untrue. However, if it is proven that officers were involved in unlawful acts, the NRD would not hesitate to take stern action.

The NRD also never made any promises to return after the Aidilfitri celebrations, hence there are no further plans scheduled for the district.

The Mobile Registration Unit moves according to the department's yearly planned schedule.

Jainisah Mohd Noor is the public relation officer for the director-general of NRD