No fixed period for flood victims to replace personal documents

There is no set time period for flood victims to replace their personal documents, National Registration Department (JPN) director-general Ruslin Jusoh says.

He said there was no need for flood victims to rush to replace their documents, such as identity cards and birth certificates, if they had more urgent matters to attend to.

However, should they need to settle their children’s schooling matters or banking issues which require such documents, they are advised to replace them immediately to prevent problems at a later point.

"Even if there is no deadline given, we hope they will not wait too long because schools are reopening… and the documents will be needed by then," he told reporters in Kuala Nerus yesterday.

Ruslin also said the department had mobilised its personnel at the affected areas to help victims apply for the free replacement of lost or damaged personal documents.
 
He said they are not required to submit supporting documents such as police reports in their application.

"When the documents are ready after three to five days, we will deliver the documents to them," he said. 

He said so far this year, 6,853 identity cards have been replaced and issued by JPN for various reasons.

He said that the number is expected to increase since the floods in Terengganu and Kelantan have just ended.