Mandatory information not properly stored in iJPN system, audit report shows

Information classified as mandatory at the National Registration Department (JPN) has not been stored properly in the main iJPN system, according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2019 Series 2 released yesterday.

According to the report, among the effects of this is that 580 or 0.1% of 0.56 million birth records have acquired citizenship status, yet there are no detailed descriptions on the method of acquiring the citizenship status in the system.

In addition, 59,946 or 0.3% of 22.07 million identity card data have discrepancies between the date of birth and the six-digit combination in the identity card number denoting the date, said the report.

“The absence of SOPs in terms of reviewing and updating data can cause the information generated in the iJPN System to be unreliable and lack integrity and can pose a risk to the JPN database,” read the report.

The report said that the weaknesses of the iJPN system involve legal aspects as well as mandatory regulations in the processing of identity documents which are not controlled systematically, and that there is no integration between modules and sub-modules.

JPN was recommended to take several improvement measures to overcome the weaknesses and ensure that the management of registration and the issuance of identity documents achieve the set objectives.

The report said that among others, JPN must ensure that all legal requirements, regulations and mandatory SOPs in the process of registration and issuance of identity documents are established and set as mandatory fields in the iJPN system.

According to the report, JPN is also recommended to upgrade the system to create an infrastructure that supports the digital environment in terms of registration and issuance of identity documents as well as data storage that is reliable, secure and of high integrity.

The report also said that the management of identity documents at JPN was satisfactory with the registration and issuance of identity documents of Malaysians managed in accordance with current acts and regulations.