Putrajaya – detikperistiwa.co.id
The National Registration Department (JPN) has successfully dismantled a sophisticated birth certificate forgery syndicate operating across multiple states in a large-scale operation codenamed Ops Tumpang. The operation, conducted on Tuesday, was part of an extensive effort to combat identity document fraud and safeguard national security.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, revealed that the syndicate exploited loopholes in the registration process by using individuals as birth informants who submitted falsified birth documents at JPN counters. These fraudulent certificates were then sold on the black market to individuals seeking Malaysian citizenship for undocumented children.
Speaking at a press conference at JPN Headquarters, the Minister emphasized the grave implications of such illegal activities, stating that the syndicate’s operations extended beyond domestic borders and were linked to human trafficking networks smuggling undocumented foreign children into the country.
Strategic Operations and High-Profile Arrests
The operation was carried out in Putrajaya, Selangor, Perak, and Penang following nearly a year of meticulous intelligence gathering by JPN in collaboration with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM). The enforcement action led to the arrest of ten Malaysian nationals, comprising eight men and two women.
Among those detained, four key individuals, including a lawyer, were identified as intermediaries responsible for coordinating between syndicate members and applicants. The remaining six were birth informants who facilitated the registration of falsified birth records.
Authorities also confiscated RM54,000 in cash, believed to be proceeds from the illegal operation. Investigators have so far identified 80 fraudulent birth certificates issued through this syndicate, with further arrests expected as the probe continues.
Severe Legal Consequences and Ongoing Investigations
The case is being investigated under Section 36(1)(b) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Act 299) for providing false information during birth registration. If found guilty, offenders could face fines of up to RM20,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
Further charges are anticipated under anti-corruption and organized crime laws, given the scale and severity of the syndicate’s operations.
In a related development, SPRM has arrested 16 additional suspects, including a prominent figure with the title ‘Datuk Seri’, in connection with a separate but similar scheme involving fraudulent late birth registrations for non-citizens. The arrests, made under Ops Outlander and Ops Birth, targeted clinics and legal firms in the Klang Valley and Johor suspected of producing falsified supporting documents.
The detained individuals, aged between 20 and 70 years old, are now under investigation for corruption-related offenses linked to document forgery and abuse of the registration system.
Government’s Commitment to National Security and Public Integrity
The Minister of Home Affairs reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards identity document fraud, emphasizing that such crimes pose a direct threat to national security, immigration control, and public trust in official institutions.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to document falsification, assuring that authorities will continue to take firm action against those attempting to exploit Malaysia’s legal framework for criminal gain.
This decisive operation underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of national identity documents and protecting the sovereignty of the country.
Detik Peristiwa
