ACCORDING to Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, only children with birth certificates are entitled to subsidised education, while those without birth certificates are treated as foreigners, and as such, have to pay much higher school fees.
While the reality of the situation dictates that children without birth certificates are not Malaysian, an interim solution must be sought. One example could be the issuance of temporary certificates to those who have one parent who is Malaysian citizen.
I call upon the Home Ministry, the Education Ministry and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to craft detailed solutions to deal with this matter. It is very unfair for children to pay the price for their parents’ inaction. Any solution must be all encompassing and must include the issuance of birth certificates to those who are verily born in Malaysia.
I also urge the National Registration Department to indentify the number of children without birth certificates because it affects their welfare and education as many of them are unable to attend school.
The Federal Constitution guarantees a right of citizenship to anyone who is born in Malaysia after Malaysia Day, and if at the time of birth one parent is Malaysian. This is contained in Schedule II of the constitution, which covers matters of citizenship.
Dr Asharuddin Ahmad
Gerakan National Central Committee Member
15 May 2009
