The National Registration Department recorded 4,598 late birth registrations in six months, warning of serious consequences for unregistered children.
KUALA KRAI: The National Registration Department (JPN) recorded 4,598 applications for late birth registrations nationwide between Jan 1 and July 15 this year.
Its director-general, Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias, said birth registration is a crucial step to ensure every individual enjoys their rights as a citizen, including access to healthcare, education and various government services.
“Delaying or failing to register a birth can have serious implications for a person’s future, such as difficulties in obtaining identity documents and accessing the rights and facilities provided by the government,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after presenting birth certificates to eight children of Zapni Abd Wahab, 53, aged between six and 19, in Kampung Johal here today.
Their mother, Nur Syuhada Wahab, 40, said the 19-year ordeal of waiting for her children to obtain their birth certificates has finally ended after JPN approved their applications.
“Before this, it was difficult to register them for school and take them to the clinic because they didn’t have birth certificates. There were so many questions to answer and so many procedures to go through.
“Now that JPN has handed over the birth certificates to them, I plan to send my six children, aged between six and 16, to school next year,” she said.
She said the failure to register her children’s births earlier was due to family issues, including the lack of marriage documents and difficulties in getting transportation to go to the JPN office.
