Solaman presented with birth cert on 8th birthday
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD R. Solaman Vijay received his birth certificate rather late. But once he got it, the boy held on to it for dear life. After being presented with the certificate on Saturday, the Year Two pupil of SJK (T) Bayan Lepas refused to let go of the document, even when blowing out the candles on his birthday cake at his home in Permatang Damar Laut, Bayan Lepas, near here.
Malaysia Hindudharma Mamandram committee member S.V. Manimaran received the certificate from the National Registration Department (JPN) one week ago and decided to present it to Solaman on his birthday celebration.
“When I grow up, I want to become a police officer,” Solaman said after eating his cake.
Solaman’s father, M. Ramadass, 32, said he had been having problems getting the birth certificate because he and his ex-wife did not register their marriage with JPN.
Solaman’s mother left the family when he was 2.
“I have tried to register my son’s birth certificate for the past six years, but it was difficult due to JPN’s strict rules.”
He thanked the Malaysia Hindudharma Mamandram (Penang branch) for helping his son get the birth certificate.
“I would also like to thank JPN for helping my son get his birth certificate.”
Manimaran said he found out about the family’s problem only when he saw the father and son walking in the neighbourhood last year when the child should have been studying.
He said they had helped to get Solaman enrolled in school.
“It was a challenging and tedious process, and it took us a year and two months to get the birth certificate.”
Manimaran said they were working on getting power supply restored in Ramadass’ house, as the family had been living without electricity for the past three years.
Ramadass earned about RM50 daily as an odd-job labourer and was unable to pay the electricity bills, he added.