No birth certs, only documents for stateless children – Najib

KOTA KINABALU: Stateless children in Sabah will not be issued birth certificates, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, when officiating at Parti Bersatu Sabah’s (PBS) 29th delegates congress here yesterday, declared that this was the decision of the Federal Cabinet.

“We have discussed the matter twice in Cabinet and we agreed that birth certificates will not be issued to stateless children in Sabah. We are aware that issuing these stateless children with birth certificates would result in the perception that they are also automatically getting Malaysian citizenship.

“The Cabinet has agreed that a document called Record of Birth would be issued to stateless children.

“This document will be in a colour different from the birth certificates issued by the National Registration Department now so that it will clearly show that these children are in a different category, h he said.

Najib added that he is aware that PBS members, during their respective divisional meetings, had raised this issue and therefore he decided to make the announcement when officiating the party fs main congress.

Najib told all those present at the opening ceremony yesterday that freedom of religion will always be fully protected in the country.

“If there are any doubts, we will refer to the Constitution, the 20 Points Agreement and the 10 point solution on the usage of the word ‘ Allah’ i n Sabah and Sarawak. If there are any weaknesses such as the seizure of Bibles in Bahasa Melayu, we have i nstructed that the bibles be returned c that is our commitment.

“I do not deny that there are 'little Napoleans' who do not understand and have different interpretations of the Government’s policies,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said that of the issues Pairin raised in his speech earlier, the one where the latter stated his and PBS ' willingness to defend Sabah in Malaysia was what he valued most.

“You are a true Malaysian patriot because you love the country above all else, h Najib sa id, add ing that in BN, al l component parties are g iven the space and focus to give their opinions and suggestions towards the development of the country and determining the policies for the Coalition.

He also took a shot at the Opposition which Najib said is trying to emulate what BN has done for the country and the successes it had achieved.

“The Opposition try to emulate us but they failed they came up with an alternative budget that was not well received and they are not brave to come up with a shadow Cabinet. This means that they can promise anything, but what we should ask them is if t hey, as a Coa l it ion w it h contradicting opinions and ideology can administer the country,” Najib stressed.