Racial identity information still required in some govt forms

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Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun

Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun

KUALA LUMPUR: Racial identity information is still required in several government official forms because they involve legal aspects and certain requirements, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun said the space on identity information in some government forms is maintained because of the requirements under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution and certain laws.

He said the information on race also remained to meet the requirement of stakeholders for research and planning purposes.

“The effort to realise Bangsa Malaysia through the government official forms started in 2009.

“The cabinet meeting on July 29, 2009, agreed that forms used by the government, except MyKad and certain government documents, be reviewed by government agencies to drop the unnecessary identity information,” he added.

He was replying an oral question from First Admiral (Rtd) Mohamad Imran Abd Hamib (PKR-Lumut) who wanted to know how the government wanted to realise “Bangsa Malaysia “by introducing government forms which did not provide space for “race”, but “citizenship”.

Entulu said following the decision by the cabinet, action was taken by government agencies to review the use of racial identity in government forms.

A survey by the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) in 2011 on 346 government official forms found only 198 remained with the space on racial identity, he added. –Bernama