UKB a fast track for stateless persons to obtain IDs – Lee
MIRI: The National Registration Department (NRD) has managed to reduce the number of stateless persons in Sarawak since the department established its mobile registration teams or UKB in 2004.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Lee Kim Shin thanked the department for such initiative and hoped that those affected will take full advantage of the service offered – a fast track to obtain their documents which will open up many opportunities for them.
“Today alone, 19 stateless persons from rural areas in Sarawak, who migrated and resided in Senadin constituency have finally obtained their birth certificates and three others also received their identity cards, IC.
“The youngest being 13 years old and the oldest 55 years old and it is very sad because these people including the 13-year old boy here, didn't have the chance to go to school. Thus causing him and 18 others to miss many opportunities – getting a job and also other government assistance like BRIM,” said Lee when handing over the documents to the recipients at NRD office here yesterday.
Among those present were his special assistant Eric Chin, UKB Miri chief Affrizan Bujang and SUPP Miri Public Complaint Bureau head Hanim Jaraee and assistant registration officers, Philip Neh and Felix Japi.
Lee said the 19 recipients including some from Limbang and Bintulu Divisions had applied for the documents through the mobile unit of NRD with the help of the SUPP Senadin Service Centre in October and December last year.
“UKB helps to speed up processing of birth certificates and ICs for those with the relevant supporting documents, otherwise through normal process some will have to wait for many years,” he said.
Lee thus urged the recipients to also encourage other stateless people in their respective areas to apply for similar documents – which open up a host of benefits for them. Among them were obtaining formal education and decent jobs, applying for many government assistance while able to register as voters and discharge their democratic rights.