JPN director-general Zamri Misman said this situation was worrying, Bernama reported.

This represents 4% of the 200,000 MyKad applications every year, he added.

The most common reason given for the loss is misplacing the MyKad somewhere, especially when going on vacations or travelling.

Zamri was speaking after attending the Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) programme in Kampung Telaga Daing in Kuala Nerus today.

Zamri said those who lose their MyKads frequently can be fined up to RM1,000. They also risk their identity cards being misused by irresponsible persons to commit offences.

As such, he advised the public to take better care of their MyKad and immediately report to the police if they lose it.

“Come to JPN after lodging police reports so that we can help you. We are worried that other people will later misuse these documents,” he said.

Earlier, during the Mekar programme, Abdul Wahab Saleh, 71, a citizen, received his MyKad from Zamri.

Wahab, who is a person with disabilities (OKU) in the slow-learner category, never had a MyKad. He only possessed a birth certificate as nobody had helped him to apply for a MyKad.

Wahab is not married and lives with relatives.

Zamri said Wahab’s nephew helped him to apply for an identity card in May as it was difficult to finance his medical treatment at the hospital.

Wahab was also unable to get help from the welfare department because he did not have his MyKad.