Cartels involved in producing and selling fake identification cards (IC) no longer exist in Sabah, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said such activities which might have existed in the past were eradicated through proactive action and monitoring by the ministry and national registration department (NRD).
However, he urged the public to inform the ministry in the event they knew of any cartel operating in their midst.
"If there are individuals still involved (in such cartels), we want the public to inform the ministry or NRD so that surveillance and legal action can be done immediately," he told reporters after officiating the ministry-level Innovation Day here today.
Ahmad Zahid said this when asked to comment on reports by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants regarding the IC project tabled last Wednesday.
RCI found that unlawful issuance of blue identification cards to illgal immigrants in Sabah was financially motivated.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, when tabling the report, said the commission's findings did not show that the ICs were issued on political interests.
Ahmad Zahid said following the RCI report, the ministry would liaise with departments involved with the RCI, namely NRD and the immigration department, especially in Sabah, so that internal problems did not recur.
Besides that, he said holders of green identification cards would have a standard operating procedure (SOP) to determine their position, based on recommendations which would be looked into by the RCI permanent committee chaired by himself and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
The RCI, in its report, also suggested for a permanent committee on illegal immigrants which would report to the Cabinet chaired by the prime minister.
At the same time, a working committee chaired by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan will also be set up.
The RCI was formed on Aug 11, 2012 and given the power to investigate the number of illegal immigrants in Sabah who were given identification cards or citizenship.
Commenting on improvement efforts carried out by the NRD, Ahmad Zahid said the department no longer issued birth certificates to stateless children, especially in Sabah.
Instead, he said the department issued a birth document using a different colour.
"Security features of the MyKad will also be improved. The NRD carries out monitoring and investigations by plainclothed enforcement officers," he added.