The quality of the Malaysian microchip-based identity card, known as MyKad, is 'good', said a top official from the Home Ministry after a government backbencher complained otherwise.

Showing his own MyKad to the Dewan Rakyat today, Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) claimed its quality is "low".

He expressed concern that the police would not be able to differentiate between a genuine or forged MyKad and requested that it be replaced with a better quality one.

Responding, Home Ministry's parliamentary secretary Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said the police have been provided with MyKad readers to ascertain the authenticity of the identity cards.

"From the 18 million MyKads issued, only a few cases of (forgery) were detected. The current MyKad quality is sufficient and good," he stressed.

MyKad was introduced in September 2001, making Malaysia a pioneer country in the use of the 'smart card' - a plastic card embedded with a 64k microchip.

The card is capable of storing a variety of information in addition to functioning as a cash card but it has also given rise to concern of privacy.

Punishable under ISA

Replying to the original question from Abdul Ghapur earlier, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said a total of 260 people were punished last year over forgery of MyKad.

Out of this, 238 of them were illegal immigrants while the rest were locals. Those convicted face a jail term up to five years, fine of not more than RM50,000 or both.

Those caught with forging MyKad could also be arrested under the notorious Internal Security Act which allows for detention without trial.

Elaborating, Abdul Rahman said the process of forging MyKad was done by changing the particulars and photo of the card holder on the plastic layer of the card.

"Usually, the microchip in the card will also be damaged to prevent the original details in the card to be read. These MyKads are normally sourced from those lost," he said.

Chor Chee Heung (BN-Alor Setar), a former deputy home minister, queried whether the government can assure that the card will not be forged in view of today's technology.

"When MyKad was issued, the government said it cannot be forged unless it is applied for with forged documents. But today we see that many sophisticated credit cards can also be forged, so is it still the same situation today?" he asked.

Replying, Abdul Rahman reiterated that the identity card could not be forged and only the particulars on its surface can be changed but not the microchip.