Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Minister Ng Yen Yen mentioned that her Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is working with Registration Department and state governments to resolve problem of children without “documentation”. She goes on to say that these documents were needed for schooling and medical access. Wonder what are those “documents” because she says it does not include identification cards.
Selangor is mentioned as having a high number of people without proper identification, especially from the Indian community. Figures vary from 20,000 to 80,000 depending on who you ask. Besides Selangor, Sabah also has a very high number of children without identification – usually those with illegal immigrant parents, unlike Selangor where the parents are local Indians without any identifications themselves. Kind of a generation problem.
We hope this program will succeed, instead of being dragged until next election season. However, its wiser and most likely cost effective to tackle identification card and citizenship issue at the same time. No point in having another round of exercise to investigate, document and solve identification card problem. The Registration Department should be able to decide on giving birth certificate and/or identity cards based on data collected by the ministry workers, NGOs, state government staff etc.
Before election, this stateless people topic was a hot issue in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Malacca as there were cases of estate workers who for generation were without any proper identification. Coupled with total illiteracy, these people were perfect for cheap labor in estates and farm located in remote areas.
It is a good step by the ministry. But what surprises me is the alleged number of people without proper documentation. I think these numbers are wildly exarggerated, probably for some political reasons. At least based on my experience, I find it hard to believe such numbers especially in the West Malaysia.
Normally this happens due to parents’ ignorance or due to children born out of wedlocks. In some cases it is done by non Malaysians Indians who try to take advantage to get Mykad.
East Malaysia is of course is a different story as the people involved are likely the illegal immigrants.
i think this will be another white elephant story, killer. there will be some fire in the beginning, but after sometime, it will be other projects and other press conferences.
i too think that the numbers are a bit out of this world. We focus on the west coast states, perhaps out of 5 million population, 20-30 thousand is possible. If there’s three generation family (about 25 people in a conservative setting). This situation is propogated because the initial people (parents) don’t register their children, and their children who get married don’t do the same. All due to shame, worry, fear of being arrested, ignorance. some don’t think its important and lose their documents. Then, there are those who marry (not legal) illegal immigrants. Non Malaysians Indian are possible, but not to the extent. But then, we see Indonesians, Bangladeshis, Middle East natives etc walking around with local wife and kids in local school. Boleh pulak?
East Malaysia, definitely its the immigrants.
Don’t make sense lah. How come people be so ignorant ? In the first place, when you are born you must be delivered at hospital or at the estate’s clinic. Normally they get registered there. Even in estates the mgmt will ensure that the kids are registered. Even if not, they will be discovered at school.
Those who marry foreigners ? The kids still can be registered for BC and Mykad but Red colour I think.
I think the numbers should be in hundreds at most…I tell you some of these people are non Indian malaysians (born in india but brought to Malaysia).
hmmm.. i think u r rite.