Joint programme for late birth registration, ICs in Bekenu today
MIRI: Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus’ service centre and the National Registration Department ( NRD) is jointly holding a late registration of birth certificates and identity cards programme at Bekenu Community Hall today (Feb 7) starting at 9am.
For locals, not having identification documents means losing out on benefits given to Malaysian citizens in terms of education, health and government aid. Rosey said the effort to hold such a programme for late registration of birth certificates and identity cards will not only provide a solution for problems arising from late registration of birth certificates, but also those involving land and other matters.
“Owning an identification card seems like a distant target for some villagers who have yet to receive their birth certificates or identity cards,” Rosey said.
The programme aims to help people living in rural or remote areas who have yet to receive identification documents.
She disclosed that some of the villagers in Bekenu failed to register the birth of their children with the NRD before the 42- day grace period ended.
Thus, they were forced to register late and in turn, cannot obtain their identification documents without endorsement from the NRD, she said, adding the authorities were stringent in their screening to ensure only those born in the state were given citizenship.
She also pointed out the programme which is the first such public programme in Bekenu district, would be much appreciated by villagers who did not have citizenship documents and would help address problems relating to birth certificates and identification cards especially for those living in longhouses.
Rosey explained that village chiefs could bring along their villagers who are without birth certificates and identity cards along with supporting documents to the programme and that various community leaders such as Pemanca and Temenggong will also be there to assist in verifying the applicants’ backgrounds.
She noted that although the process would take time but something was being done by the NRD to help the people.