Kuala Tahan: The National Registration Department (NRD) has implemented the Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (MEKAR) Programme to facilitate the issuance of identification documents for residents in remote areas, particularly focusing on the Orang Asli communities. This initiative aims to reach individuals who face difficulties accessing NRD branches due to geographical and financial constraints.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail emphasized the significance of the MEKAR Programme during a visit to Kampung Keniam Orang Asli village. The program is designed to assist those who struggle to obtain identity documents, including the disabled, elderly, displaced patients, and rural communities. The outreach service is a critical step in ensuring these individuals can access essential services and opportunities.
The recent expedition to distribute identification documents involved a challenging two-hour journey by boat from the Kuala Tahan jetty, navigating through forests and rapids to reach the Batek tribe's village in Kampung Keniam. The village, situated in the National Park, is home to 220 residents across 40 families. The cost of traveling to the nearest town, Jerantut, for document registration can exceed RM1,000, making the MEKAR Programme a crucial alternative.
Saifuddin highlighted the program's effectiveness, noting that many parents in these communities fail to register their children's births within the legal period, resulting in a lack of MyKad for eligible individuals. The initiative addresses these issues, raising awareness of the importance of identity documents for school registration and access to healthcare and government services.
The MEKAR Programme's impact is evident in its growing reach, with 2,311 programs conducted in 2024, compared to 1,762 in 2023 and 1,393 in 2022. This trend underscores the program's success in aligning with the Prime Minister's MADANI administrative approach, which focuses on values of courtesy, sympathy, and love.
The programme is divided into several categories, including MEKAR Community, MEKAR Ihsan, MEKAR Identiti, MEKAR Pahlawan, and MEKAR Diaspora, each catering to specific needs. During the recent ceremony, Saifuddin handed over 24 MyKads and 20 birth certificates to the Batek tribe, and six new MyKads were issued to replace damaged ones for heart patients, cancer patients, the elderly, and the disabled in Kampung Teresek.