Hard To Live Without Fingerprints

By Nur Afiradina Arshad

IPOH, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- Most people know how vital fingerprints are for official matters and personal security. What is life like for those who do not have fingerprints? 

“Not easy”, said Ros Syam Syasila Rooslee, 34, who has no fingerprints due to a skin condition. 

Describing the difficulties she faces whenever dealing with official matters – from banking to government services – requiring identity verification, she said the procedures can be exhausting and stressful. 

“I noticed the problem when I was a Year Six pupil while applying for my identification card (MyKad). At that time, the system could still detect some fingerprints, but by the age of 17, when I renewed my identification card, the system at the National Registration Department (JPN) could no longer read the fingerprint patterns. The system requires at least 30 percent of the fingerprint for identification.

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“As a result, the process of replacing my MyKad took about two to three months, whereas it normally takes a day for others. My application had to be sent to the JPN headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to verify that I indeed have no fingerprints before a new MyKad could be issued, involving several other departments for official confirmation,” she said.

She said the absence of fingerprints means she must carry several documents whenever conducting official business, including her birth certificate, copies of her identification card, a special verification letter from JPN confirming her fingerprint status, and her employment card or driving licence.

Ros Syam Syasila, who works at a radio station here, added that the documents concerned must be current and renewed every few months, even if there is no change in her personal information.

“The JPN verification letter regarding my fingerprint status is A4-sized with a photo and blue stamp (JPN), but some offices decline the previous year’s stamp, forcing me to renew it annually to avoid complications.

“Simple transactions, like transferring vehicle ownership, which could normally be done in minutes using digital fingerprints, require me to visit the JPJ (Road Transport Department) office in person. I have to submit multiple forms, wait in long queues, and pay fees. It’s truly burdensome,” she said.

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Ros also expressed concerns about the future, including performing the Haj or working abroad, as it will involve the international immigration system.

“Many countries now use fingerprint systems. I worry that I may be unable to enter another country. Letters can be used, but it’s still difficult. I am scared to even travel,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr A Mohan, a dermatologist at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, explained that the absence of fingerprints usually results from three factors: genetics, skin conditions or external influences such as chemotherapy or occupational exposure.

“Genetic conditions like adermatoglyphia, where individuals are born without fingerprints due to a mutation in the SMARCAD1 gene, are rare. Other genetic syndromes affecting skin development, such as Naegeli–Franceschetti–Jadassohn syndrome caused by KRT14 mutations, are also uncommon worldwide.

“Most reported cases are in Europe, particularly Switzerland, Germany, Italy and France, while in Asia, cases have been documented among Indian and Japanese populations, and in the Middle East among individuals from Turkey and Iraq.

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“In Malaysia, almost all cases (of fingerprint loss) are acquired, meaning they develop over time due to skin issues that may go unnoticed, often from dry skin or occupational and daily activities,” he told Bernama.

He said in most cases, the primary cause for the absence of fingerprints is eczema, including atopic eczema and hand-and-foot eczema caused by allergic or irritant contact dermatitis. These conditions can redden and damage the skin, eroding fingerprint patterns over time.

Dr Mohan added that dermatologists can identify the underlying cause and reduce the risk of fingerprint loss with proper treatment.

“In the case of fingerprint loss due to the acquired factor, patients can get certainty about the real cause and receive appropriate treatment. If the skin condition is not chronic or there is no permanent damage, such as scarring, there is a high chance that the fingerprints can recover and return to the original state.

“For non-chronic cases without permanent skin damage, over 80 percent of patients have the potential for recovery. Recovery depends on the duration, severity of the skin problem and the underlying cause of the fingerprint loss,” he said.

-- BERNAMA