A 70-year-old woman had been issued with a red permanent residency (PR) identity card by the National Registration Department (NRD) after she renewed her then blue Malaysian identity card 20 years ago.

NONE During a press conference today, Teratai Gerakan public complaints bureau chief Liew Pok Boon claimed that Ong Poo Su (left) from Taman Muda Ampang had a blue identity card (IC) which was a proof of her citizenship.

However it was replaced with a red PR card after she renewed her IC at Petaling Jaya NRD, claimed Liew.

“I think this was due to NRD's carelessness and I believe this was not the first case,” he told media.

According to Liew, Ong had obtained a passport in 1989 and visited Singapore the same year.  He added that Ong had 12 children, all of which had birth certificates.

He added that Ong was born in Taiping, Perak by parents who were born there as well, which proves that she is a citizen and not a permanent resident.

"All the birth certificates refer to her children as citizens and are labled 'blue'. 'Blue' refers to her as a citizen, so why should she be given a card for permanent residents?" he asked.

Liew said that because of the NRD's mistake, Ong now faces problems in the daily life and will not be able to vote in the next general election nor apply for Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M).

He said that the Gerakan complaints bureau will be meeting the NRD director in Putrajaya to help resolve Ong's problem.