KOTA BHARU: The National Registration Department (NRD) received 93,455 applications under the “Menyemai Kasih Rakyat” (Mekar) programme through 5,273 outreach programmes from 2020 until March 15 this year.

       Its director-general, Badrul Hisham Alias, said the programme ensured that every eligible resident of the country had valid identification documents.

       "The three states with the highest number of applications are (Federal Territory of) Putrajaya, Perak and Selangor,” he said after the Mekar “Santunan Kasih Warga Emas” programme at Rumah Seri Kenangan, Pengkalan Chepa, here on Sunday (March 31).

       “We will do our best to go to Orang Asli settlements and ensure that applications for identity cards and birth registrations are made for them.

       "However, NRD needs to consider several factors before entering their areas, such as weather and distance,” he said.

       Earlier, Badrul Hisham handed over identity documents to two disabled individuals: Muhammad Ruslan Ali, 62, of Tumpat, and Ahmad Hariz Rosli, 12, of Kubang Kerian. – Bernama