KUALA LUMPUR, 14 May 2009: Children without birth certificates are now allowed to register for schooling, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
However, she added, the penghulu, village head or any figure with similar authority must verify that the children concerned were born in this country.
She said in this regard, the ministry had liaised with the National Registration Department (NRD) and non-governmental organisations in carrying out the delayed birth registration to lessen the children’s burden.
“The ministry is urging parents and guardians to obtain the necessary identity documents for the children so that they will not be deprived of schooling which will affect their future,” she said during her visit to the Taman Megah Handicapped Children’s Centre, here, today.
The NRD’s Birth, Death and Child Adoption Division director, Mohd Azmin Hassan, assured that the department would issue birth certificates to such children if their application forms were duly filled and they had met the conditions set.
“The NRD will approve the delayed birth registration based on the report by the Welfare Department and supported by documents such as a court order, doctor’s report and police report,” said Mohd Azmin who was present during Shahrizat’s visit. — Bernama
