Abu Bakar (seated fourth left) and other members of the delegation in a group photo during the visit to State NRD office.
MIRI: A delegation from the Orang Ulu National Association (Ouna), led by its president Datuk Abu Bakar Abdullah, recently paid a courtesy call on the National Registration Department (NRD) state director at the department headquarters in Kuching.
The visit was for the purpose of applying for birth certificates and identity cards for the ‘stateless’ among the rural community.
Abu Bakar said the association understood that a time frame has been set by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resolve the issue of ‘stateless’ people born in Sarawak.
“We understand that a time frame in which those eligible to obtain their identity card and birth certificate will be dealt by Dec 1 and eligible applicants with complete documentation that fulfils all requirements will be approved within this month.
“That was why we rushed to Kuching in the hope that the department (NRD) will look into the problems faced by our remote communities. Some of those in the delegation have applied for the documentation but waited for years for the approval from the department until today and those without birth certificate have applied several times but have yet to obtain approval from the department,” Abu Bakar told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Also present was Long Banga village chief Gabriel Liran. He took the opportunity to show two birth certificates of the Penans to NRD Sarawak director.
“These two members of the Penan community cannot come here today as they have no money to pay for their fare to Kuching. They currently hold non-Malaysian birth certificate,” said Gabriel.
Abu Bakar said the NRD Sarawak director promised the group that he would personally look into their problems.
and personally investigate why their applications have not been approved by the department.