Non-Sarawakian identity card for eligible workers recognised by federal government

THE federal government has formally recognised the Non-Sarawakian identity card (NSIC) as the designated identity card for eligible non-Sarawakian workers in Sarawak.

Minister in the Premier’s Department, Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai said the recognition followed an official meeting jointly chaired by the Sarawak Government and the Immigration Department of Malaysia in Putrajaya on February 7, 2024.

“It was agreed that the NSIC would be implemented under the FWTA ecosystem to serve as the designated identity card for eligible non-Sarawakian workers in Sarawak, in place of the federal i-Kad which was not used in Sarawak,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.

He said claims that the card lacked federal recognition or that regional Immigration and Labour Integrated Centres (ILCs) remained unoperational did not reflect the situation on the ground.

Subsequent coordination with the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysia Police, Sarawak Labour Department and Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit had made the card fully operational.

On efforts to bring integrated services closer to employers, Sikie said the Kuching ILC had been operating since early this year.

The Sibu ILC began operations in September to serve the central region, while renovation works at the Miri centre were nearing completion.

“Operations are set to commence in early 2027, while Bintulu and Mukah are scheduled to be operational towards the end of 2027,” he said.