Some Muslims said they are concern that the government’s move to change the citizenship identification cards into smart cards could lead to revocation of their citizenship. A high court lawyer said the people should feel themselves fortunate if their citizenship IDs were not confiscated when they go and change their ID with smart card, which are also called as National Electronic IDs (NeID). He said according to the rules, the members of minority religion would not be given citizenship IDs. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Manpower is issuing NeID as substitute to the paper IDs. The department has started as pilot projects in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and Yangon regions as well as in Rakhine State. Also, the new applicant for citizenship IDs are issued with smart cards. The ministry has plan to gradually substitute the paper cards with smart cards. In the process of exchanging the cards, it is likely that people who are holding citizenship IDs could face their cards being revoked. During early 1990s after the military coup, the three-fold version of Nationality Verification Cards were substituted with the current pink colour citizenship IDs. After that, children born from the parents who holds citizenship IDs are issued with the “pink colour” full citizenship cards. Based on the religious belief, the name of the race of the bearer is mentioned in different ways. When NeID are to be issued, it will be based on the information recorded at the time of application for the original citizenship IDs. Also the people who obtained their citizenship IDs by bribing the officials to obtain card would be a cause of concern for them. Even though, the government assured that the original cards would be placed with smart cards, but concerns are rising for possible denial to issue smart cards to all bearers of citizenship IDs. Reference: BHRN