Marriage certs need NRD approval: DO

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BAU: Bidayuh community leaders are reminded not to issue certificates to their men or women who marry non-Bidayuhs or non-Malaysians according to their customary marriage law.

TOM HEM MIJOD

TOM HEM MIJOD

Instead, they should ask the couples concerned to go to the National Registration Department (NRD) to register their marriages.

Bau District Officer Tom Hem Mijod said the issuance of customary marriage certificates to such people would only cause problems to the married couples later.

“To us, it is not that the customary marriage certificates are not valid, but we have to give in to the NRD’s insistence to approve marriage certificates.

“Marriage certificates have to be approved by the department (NRD) before it could issue birth certificates to the children of Bidayuhs married to non-Bidayuhs or non-Malaysians,” he explained during the presentation of appointment certificates to community leaders at the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) office in Taman Seniawan yesterday.

He said several efforts had been made to convince NRD to approve the customary marriage certificates, but the department still insisted on endorsing the documents first.

“We have been handling cases like this for the last two to three years and the only way that parents could solve the problem is by writing letters requesting for new marriage certificates issued by the department itself,” he said.

He hoped that Bidayuh community leaders would heed his call so that parents could avoid problems related to getting birth certificates for their children.

He also urged the community leaders to be proactive in preparing for the yearly flood.

“As in our last meeting with the community leaders in the District Office at the end of last year, we want to empower the community leaders and village development and security committees (JKKKs) in the flood-prone areas in carrying out preparations for the flood,” he said.

He said this would ensure that the affected villagers could at least temporarily survive on their own while waiting for government help.

He added that an aspect which these community leaders could look into is food rations.

“Normally a flood would last between four to seven days, so get the villagers to store extra food,” he said.

He also reminded the community leaders that their appointments would not be extended if they failed to perform satisfactorily.

“District officers monitor the performance of all community leaders who will not be re-appointed if they performed poorly,” he said, adding that a community leader could be appointed for a maximum period of four years.

He also expressed his hope that the community leaders would make full use of the JKKKs to carry out and implement plans for their villages.

“To a certain extent, JKKKs could be regarded as a mini-cabinet at the village level. In view of this, community leaders must ensure that JKKKs function well,” he said.

Later he witnessed Bengoh State Assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil presenting appointment certificates to 25 community leaders from Bengoh constituency.