JPN Urges Parents To Ensure Children With Disabilities Have MyKad

BACHOK, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Parents of children with special needs are advised to ensure that their children’s births are registered so they can obtain a MyKad or identity card and be eligible for various government assistance initiatives.

National Registration Department (JPN) director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias said JPN remained committed to assisting eligible individuals in obtaining a MyKad through various community-friendly programmes, including the Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (MEKAR) programme.

“Regardless of a child’s condition, normal or with disabilities, it is important to register their birth. Once they have an identification document, they can enjoy all government assistance benefits directly.

“JPN never tires of assisting both rural and urban communities in need of our services, as we are determined to ensure that all eligible citizens receive this identification document,” he told reporters after the MEKAR programme in Kampung Gong Tunga here today.

He said that as of December this year, JPN had carried out 3,300 MEKAR programmes nationwide, including 200 in Kelantan, involving nearly 100,000 applications.

During the programme, Badrul Hisham handed over replacement MyKads to two siblings with learning disabilities, Mohd Zaimi Mohd Noor, 48, and Mohd Zulkufli Mohd Noor, 29, who faced transportation difficulties in getting to the JPN office.

He said the two siblings were among the five children with disabilities of a farmer, Mohd Noor Mohd Zain, 70, who had mostly stayed at home since childhood and required close attention, making it difficult for the family to take them out.

“We hope that the replacement MyKads will help these families obtain other assistance they are eligible for, thereby lessening their burden,” he said.

Badrul Hisham expressed hope that all parties, including community leaders, non-governmental organisations and the media, would provide relevant information to JPN to ensure that all eligible citizens receive a MyKad.

--BERNAMA