NRD clarifies on mobile exercise
Kota Kinabalu March 27, 2012: The State National Registration Department (NRD) has no plans to stop the late birth registration exercise in Semporna.
However, it would now focus, instead, on registering students without birth certificates in the respective schools in the district. Its Director Ismail Ahmad said as for those not going to school, they should go to the NRD office in the district.
Ismail also clarified that the statement by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman on 40,000 without birth certificates applied to the whole of Sabah and not just in Senallang state constituency.
"I hope the media get their facts correct as irresponsible reporting could unnecessarily incite the public," he said, stressing that what he stated as published was that only 3,067 were registered without birth certificates in Senallang.
Nevertheless, he said, the said figure referred to only those who had registered and who would be subject to screening. Applications would be rejected if they do not meet the strict conditions.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran, also said the Home Minister's directive was to register local children not only confined to Semporna but statewide.
He pointed out that such directive was for local students already enrolled at various schools in Sabah but were without birth certificates.
"I believe the figure 40,000 given by the Ministry is just an approximate and not final as all applicants had to go through strict screening by NRD as well as by the Ministry," said Nasir.
Thus, he urged certain quarters not to erroneously jump to conclusion that Senallang had 40,000 children without birth certificates.
He said Semprona constituency comprising Senallang, Sulabayan and Bongaya had a total of about 40,000 voters while the population was about 100,000 including children. "So Senallang having 40,000 registering for late birth certificates is unbelievable."
He said all school children who come forward to apply for late birth registration are accompanied by parents. If the parents cannot produce valid documents such a genuine ICs or prove they are Malaysian, its impossible for NRD to entertain the application.
"So do not accuse NRD of simply issuing documents as they like," he said adding that the Government has the noble intention to help children born to Malaysian parents without birth certificates.
Nasir said Semporna constituency has about 49 islands, of which about 20 are occupied and most are very far away. For transportation to the mainland they depend on their traditional boats called "Lepa Lepa".
"And these are the children mostly without birth certificates," said Nasir He pointed out that when these island people realised the importance of education, they start sending their children to nearby schools and these are the children being referred to.
Nasir said normally during enrollment into Primary One birth certificates are not mandatory.
However, when they are in Primary Six and sit for examination they required to furnish birth certificates and the problem starts when parents could not produce them.
According to him from Feb. 29 to March 23 some 4,112 applications were received by NRD for birth and late birth certificate while 1,112 applying for MyKad and 446 for Malaysian citizenship for the whole of Semporna.
On suggestions, including by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, that the NRD Mobile Service in Semporna be stopped immediately, Nasir said, "I leave it to the Home Ministry as they have the authority to carry out or stop it".
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Liew: Why suddenly only now Sabah NRD is aware?
March 27, 2012: LIKAS Assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan on Monday questioned why only now the National Registration Department (NRD) is aware that there are still many people in Sabah without birth certificates even though the matter has existed for a very long time.
Debating the government policy speech at the State Legislative Assembly, he was referring to a statement by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman that there are "40,000 Malaysians" in Sabah without the birth certificate or other forms of valid identification documents.
Abu Seman, he said, had stated that in Semporna alone, there are about 4,000 people without identification documents.
According to him, the Federal Government has been requested prior to this to assist genuine Sabah locals to obtain birth certificates and identification documents especially those living in the interior and remote areas.
"So, I am of the opinion that the officers in the NRD should have conducted their duty with full responsibility according to the guideline and existing laws when issuing birth certificates for late registration," he said.
In fact, he said Abu Seman stated that a mobile registration service is in the process of conducting visits to several districts in Sabah to help register those without birth certificate.
To this, Liew said Sabah NRD should employ more locals from Sabah to work for the department and empower them to vet the applications for identification documents.
"I am confident and firmly believe that local officers are more knowledgeable and know who the applicants are," he said.
Penubuhan RCI lebih diperlukan sekarang. Susah sangatkah untuk bezakan keperluan yang lebih penting??
BalasPadamTelampau banyak masalah bah Ipanema. Itulah pasal bingung untuk utamakan isu yang mana satu. hehe
PadamSetuju Ipnema. RCI perlu ditubuhkan dan harap kerajaan akan mempertimbangkan sebaik mungkin penubuhan RCI.
PadamThe decision of setting up RCI is all depend on the PM. We shall wait for his official announcement.
PadamIts all up to the federal to decide.
PadamKerajaan tidak harus melenggahkan masa untuk menyelesaikan masalah PATI yang bertambah secara mendadak.
Padam"I hope the media get their facts correct as irresponsible reporting could unnecessarily incite the public," he said, stressing that what he stated as published was that only 3,067 were registered without birth certificates in Senallang.
BalasPadamBetul lah ni. Media memang patut mainkan peranan dorang sebagai pemberita @ tukang report secara profesional.
Ini kerana ramai yang bergantung pada media utk cari sumber maklumat. So sikit sajapun kesialpan pasti akan bagi kesan yang besar.
BalasPadamMedia tidak harus manipulasikan unsur yang tidak benar.
PadamBanyak kah atau sikit, yang pasti hal ini tetap perlu diselesaikan segera sebelum jumlahnya makin meningkat.
BalasPadamNO matter what, RCI should be set up in sabah.
BalasPadam"He said all school children who come forward to apply for late birth registration are accompanied by parents. If the parents cannot produce valid documents such a genuine ICs or prove they are Malaysian, its impossible for NRD to entertain the application."
BalasPadamProblem is, are their Parents even a real sabahan?? They may have gotten their IC illegally. Meaning to say they could be PTI.
The media should definitely ensure that the facts are correct so that there would not be any confusion or misunderstanding from the readers. The 40,000 stateless children applies to the entire state and not just only Senallang. Its not quite logic that an area like Senallang could have that much population. Hope that the government will make the right decision regarding the registration.
BalasPadamThere must be some reason the suspected 40,000 children. Just go ahead and investigate.
PadamIf the State NRD does not wish to stop the registration as urged by the Home Minister Anifah Aman, then they have to take precaution to ensure that those who come forward to register are truly Sabahans born to Sabahan parents. Those with dubious status should be keep in view for the time being until this matter can be investigated further.
BalasPadamNRD harus beramanah untuk menjalankan tugasnya.
BalasPadamTanggunjawab yang dipikul harus dilaksanakan dengan penuh amanah.
Padamsbelum NRD berikan sijil kelahiran, kena pastikan mereka benar2 anak2 jati Sabah, jgn hingga PATI yang mendapatnya.
BalasPadamThe 40,000 in the state who do not have birth certificate are locals whose names were submitted to the department by the community leaders throughout Sabah
BalasPadamMasih ada bantahan dengan cadangan ini. Rasanya ini tidak sesuai buat masa sekarang yang masih hangat dengan isu Projek IC.
BalasPadamMungkin cara ini kurang baik dan sukar untuk kita memastikan siapa yang benar-benar berhak mendapatkannya.
BalasPadamMungkin tindakkan JPN ini tidak salah. Tapi yang salahnya adalah tidak sesuai tempoh dan masa sekarang yang hangat dengan Projek IC dan mengenai RCI yang akan ditubuhkan untuk menangani isu tersebut..
BalasPadam"LIKAS Assemblyman Datuk Liew Teck Chan on Monday questioned why only now the National Registration Department (NRD) is aware that there are still many people in Sabah without birth certificates even though the matter has existed for a very long time."
BalasPadamif I'm not mistaken, NRD has run this programme every year by going to the ground and to find out those who still don't have identification card or birth certificate.. but this programme only become an issue when the 13th general election expected to be held this year..
since NRD has no plans to stop the late birth registration exercise in Semporna, why don't those who actively oppose this programme join together to monitor and supervise this programme so that there is no abuse of power by NRD to register PATI in that area??
BalasPadam