Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email He said that some of the Indians who came to see him did not have birth certificates because their parents had not registered their births.
“As a result, they are unable to apply for an identity card, attend school, get a job or register their marriage.
“They live in perpetual fear of being nabbed and detained along with illegal immigrants.
“Their predicament is the result of their parents, mostly estate workers, being illiterate, poor, ignorant or irresponsible.”
Murugiah said most were displaced when plantations made way for development.
“Some of them may have misplaced or lost their documents and cannot trace them. They have given up hope of getting replacements because of NRD’s stringent procedures.”
Meanwhile, NRD director says:
He said NRD staff members would sit down with these people and try to identify the problem.
“But unless they come to us and give us some proof of being Malaysians we cannot help.
“Our officers will thoroughly investigate all cases. If they do not have any form of documents they could be foreigners trying to stay on in Malaysia or illegals.”
This is a good move as groups like MIC Youth and NGOs can make use of weekends to help the community.
