Ministry to tackle birth registration issues

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SPIRIT OF SHARING: Adenan (second left) presenting Raya goodies to orphans at the breaking of fast gathering cum briefing organised by Home Ministry at Marriott Hotel in Miri. On the left is Wan Junaidi.

MIRI: The Home Ministry will be taking a more people-friendly approach in its outreach programme to address cases of late registration of births.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the exercise would involve elected representatives, community leaders and even schools to take advantage of their wide network and closeness to the people.

“The elected representatives are more aware of the situation on the ground, and we are counting on them to locate those whose births have not been registered and encourage them to register at mobile registration units,” he said.

He said this during the ministry’s breaking of fast gathering and briefing for elected representatives at Marriott Resort Hotel here on Wednesday which was officiated by Minister of Special Functions Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem.

On the mobile registration units, he said they will register and issue birth certificates and MyKads to eligible citizens, especially in the rural areas, to enable young children to attend school, which they would not be able to do without the national registration documents.

“We want to ensure that Malaysians are entitled to their rights while the constitution and the law are adhered to, and there is no reason to reject applications without any strong reason,” he added.

He cited the case of a 14-year-old Chinese girl whose application was rejected thrice for reasons unknown which was brought to the attention of the director-general who reversed it as there was enough evidence to support her eligibility for citizenship.

Among those present at the function were assistant ministers Datuk Sylvester Entri, Rosey Yunus, Dr Jerip Susil and Datuk Gramong Juna, other state assemblypersons and members of parliament.

Earlier on, Adenan in his speech, listed apathy and circumstances as among the reasons for late registration of births and deaths in the state.

“We should not lay the blame solely on the authorities as the ‘tidak apa’ attitude on registering births or death has been practised for generations. Its impact is only felt when they want to register their children in schools or when they want to apply for probate or identity card,” he said.

He commended the ministry for taking a pro-active stance in overcoming this problem in the state and organising the briefing for elected representatives.