KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian babies born after January 1, 2003 will be issued MyKad, a lifelong identification card containing personal data with anti-abuse security features to replace conventional birth certificates, a news report said Friday.

Home Ministry secretary-general Aseh Che Mat said MyKad will replace birth certificates which are open to abuse, particularly among foreigners wanting to obtain Malaysian passports, reported Bernama news agency.

“One of the reasons we are switching to MyKad is because so many people tend to forge birth certificates to apply for Malaysian passports,” Aseh told reporters.

On August 28, the Perak state immigration department lodged a police report over an attempt by two Sri Lankan children who had submitted birth certificates belonging to someone else to apply for Malaysian passports.—dpa