LUNDU: Nearly 80 per cent of Penans in Baram have identification papers, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Citing statistics, he said in some settlements all the Penans have identification papers due to the continual efforts of the National Registration Department (NRD) mobile unit.
“Although it is quite difficult to locate the Penans, especially those who still lead a nomadic lifestyle, NRD’s mobile unit will slog on to register them.
“Some of them have been issued with identification documents such as birth certificates and identification cards,” he told reporters after officiating at the NRD mobile/online outreach programme at Sematan Community Hall near here on Saturday.
At the event, nine birth certificates, three MyKid and three MyKad were presented to the applicants.
“My Ministry wants to ensure that all Malaysians have proper identification documents. Those born in this country must register for a personal identification document.”
State NRD director Datu Abu Bakar Mat said registration for a birth certificate could be done online and printed immediately. However, the registration and printing machine is only available in Kuching.
He said since 2004, his office had conducted 445 operations and registered about 42,000 people across the state.