Dennis (front, sixth left) with locals who have received their personal documents, together with the NRD personnel involved in the mobile registration at Long San.
LONG SAN, Baram: The National Registration Department (NRD) has reduced the number of Sarawakians who are without identification documents — thanks to its mobile registration exercise that has been active in the remote pockets of the state, such as those in the interior of Baram.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, in praising the department’s initiative, also counters the allegation saying that there is still a large number – up to 20,000 – of people from various indigenous communities in the state’s interior who are still without identity cards, birth certificates and other personal documents.
“Since January 2016, the NRD mobile unit has received and processed 443 applications for late registration of birth and other personal documents among the indigenous communities living in remote areas such as the Penans, the Kayans and the Kenyahs,” he said when met at the community hall here yesterday.
The assemblyman joined 18 NRD personnel throughout the two-day registration exercise, which commenced on Thursday.
50 people including eight elderly individuals – the oldest among is aged 77 – who applied for their birth certificates last year received them yesterday.
“Late registration is due to severe lack of information and also the cost for them to go to the NRD for the registration of births.”
Dennis noted that in most cases, the applicants have failed to verify or provide information about their birth parents.
“Many of the marriages in the indigenous communities with foreigners are not properly registered or documented with either the NRD or through their headmen and community leaders.
“This should not happen as the implication on their children would be great – the children would face difficulties in entering school, or in applying for any assistance or facilities provided by the government.
“As this (NRD mobile unit) exercise will end this Dec 31, those still without personal documents must take the initiative. You must make the effort so as not to face difficulties later,” he said.
Dennis also reminded everybody to keep their personal documents in safe places.
“Penalty will be imposed on any application for replacements due to security reasons.”
The assemblyman also expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for coming up with the initiative to resolve issues related to personal identification documents of Malaysians when he took office in 2008.
“It was his pragmatic strategy that has helped the rural community in many ways.
“We in Baram feel the positive result of Datuk Seri Najib’s initiative and also the caring Barisan Nasional government that we have,” added Dennis.