Identity Card: Can they keep it?

If you have ever visited some apartments or high rise buildings or perhaps even offices and factories... chances are you have likely encountered the experience of the security guards there asking to have your ID card handed over to them in exchange for entry into the premises. At times, it does make me wonder whether they do really have the authority to keep our identity cards.. yet we are being repeated advised to safeguard our ID and never give to other people.

So, can these security guards actually keep our ID? What if it gets stolen or being copied for wrong doings? What if they make photocopies of your ID and abuse it? Who will then be responsible for the matter? A case of negligence or blindly following instructions?

I received a forwarded mail from a friend the other day, answering my curiosity on this issue. It was a surat perkeliling (directive letter) from Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (Ministry of Internal Security) to the private agencies involve in security. But then... it is kind of surprising that this kind of letter flows freely on the internet. A quick check on the KKDN website did not return such document... however, i did find another blogger posting similar message...

Still if this is real, then the message reads that the Minisitry is requesting all security companies to stop this practice immediately. There are two points mentioned here which reads ...

"...Peruntukan Peraturan 7 Peraturan-peraturan Pendaftaran Kebangsaan 1990 memperuntukkan bahawa hanya seorang pegawai pendaftaran, pegawai polis, pegawai kastam, pegawai tentera atau pegawai lain yang diberi kuasa bertulis ole Ketua Pengarah Pendaftaran sahaja yang dibenarkan untuk meminta dan memeriksa identiti seseorang dengan mengemukakan kad pengenalan..."

This means normal civilians do not have the right to ask and check other people's ID except with written permission from Director of National Registration. It also states ...

"...Di bawah Peraturan 8A memperuntukkan bahawa adalah suatu kesalahan jenayah bagi mana-mana orang selain pegawai-pegawai yang dinamakan di peraturan 7 untuk secara tidak munasabahnya menahan kad pengenalan milik orang lain..."

The paragraph above mentioned it is a criminal offence to hold and in possession of other people's ID, except for those mentioned in Peraturan 7. This should clear up the views that Security firms are never authorized to keep our ID, even worse these days where the firms actually employ foreigners as security guards. Can you imagine what can possibly happen if you pass your ID to a foreign worker???

Well, based on the recommendations given by the Ministry, what these security firms can do is request the ID for the purpose of jotting down the information and return the ID back to the owner immediately once they have captured the particulars. Next time when they ask for my ID again, I'm going to tell them they can jot down but can't keep. Else, I'll report the matter to KKDN. It is still a win-win situation, right?