Fact-check: MyKad not printed in China, Guan Eng wrongly blamed

A viral TikTok post claiming that MyKads are printed at the Malaysian embassy in China and that former finance minister Lim Guan Eng had a hand in this was untrue.

Checks by fact-checking outfit MyCheck found that all MyKad applications must be done through the National Registration Department (NRD) in Malaysia, which will process and print them locally.

The outfit further found that Malaysians residing abroad must return to Malaysia to apply for a MyKad, be it a new applicant or someone seeking a replacement for a damaged or lost card.

The NRD on Sept 7 also confirmed that all MyKad applications and printing happen in Malaysia.

“Malaysians residing abroad must return to Malaysia to apply for a MyKad for the first time (upon turning 12) or to replace a damaged or lost MyKad,” the department said in a statement.

Anti-DAP content

The debunked claim was made in a post on TikTok by social media user @putihwhite01, who also urged an investigation into the matter.

It received more than 13,000 likes, and 3,000 comments and was shared more than 4,000 times. More than 2,000 TikTok users also saved the video.

Malaysiakini’s checks on Sept 12 found that the video was no longer on @putihwhite01’s account.

The account, followed by just 29 users, has uploaded only seven videos, most of which were critical of the Anwar Ibrahim government or DAP.

One video claimed “DAP is offering up Malay land to the Chinese” (DAP tawarkan tanah Melayu kepada orang Cina) and featured a compilation of videos of DAP leader Nga Kor Ming giving a speech at a political rally.

However, the video was a compilation of Nga’s political speeches promising to grant permanent freehold titles to the new villages in Perak.

Nga did not “offer up Malay land to the Chinese”, as the video claimed.

Some of the snippets had the year 2018 in the watermark, but others were undated.

In August 2018, Nga, as Perak DAP chairperson, released a press statement urging the Perak government to grant 999-year leases or permanent (freehold) ownership status to new villages as promised in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto for the 14th general election.

Then-Perak menteri besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the state government could not grant 999-year leases or freehold status to the new villages because it contravened the Federal Constitution.

MyCheck and Malaysiakini are part of JomCheck, a Malaysian fact-checking alliance.

Through JomCheck, Malaysians can submit requests to fact-check a claim by sending a WhatsApp message to the tipline at 017-477 6659 (WhatsApp text only, no calls) or via this link.

Fact-check: Civil service pensions have not been cancelled

Fact-check: Mkini didn't publish 'Nenggiri voters reject heaven' article

Fact-check: What did Anwar say about ringgit's performance?

Fact-check: Mkini didn't publish article on Sheila Majid down with arthritis

Fact-check: Pork import restriction a long-standing biosecurity measure

Fact-check: Mkini didn't publish article on Petronas-endorsed scheme