9,528 Cases Of Late Birth Registration Recorded Nationwide Last Year - Saifuddin Nasution
HULU SELANGOR, Jan 6 (Bernama) — A total of 9,528 cases of late birth registration were recorded nationwide last year, largely due to unregistered marriages and a lack of awareness about the legal requirement to register births, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the failure to register marriages not only affects the legal status of couples, but also has serious implications for their children when their births go unregistered, limiting access to education, healthcare and other basic services.
“These children are innocent, yet they grow up outside the mainstream system. Some only manage to obtain identity documents after dozens, or even tens, of years, with the assistance of non-governmental organisations, lawyers, and the cooperation of religious departments and relevant authorities,” he said after handing over a birth certificate to a one-year-and-four-month-old baby here today.
The baby’s mother, Nur Hakikah Ismail, 24, is among seven siblings who recently received their birth certificates and identity cards following late registrations stemming from their parents’ unregistered marriage, which had affected the issuance of identity documents for the children.
The seven siblings, aged between 17 and 30, received approval for their late birth registration applications on Dec 8, followed by approval for late registration of identity cards on Dec 23, 2025.
Saifuddin said that under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the responsibility to register a birth does not rest solely with parents, but also with anyone aware of the birth, including family members and neighbours.
“In Peninsular Malaysia, births must be registered within 60 days, while in Sabah and Sarawak, registration must be done within 40 days. A late registration process is available for cases that exceed these periods,” he said.
He added that through corrective measures implemented by the National Registration Department (NRD) in collaboration with religious authorities, affected children were eventually registered as legitimate and able to obtain identity documents such as MyKad.
This, he said, would allow them to lead more structured lives and prevent the issue from being passed on to future generations.
Saifuddin also said the government is adopting a grassroots approach through the Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (MEKAR) initiative in Sabah and Sarawak, including interior areas, longhouses and hard-to-reach settlements, to identify individuals who do not yet possess identification documents.
"Through MEKAR, NRD officers are deployed to villages and rural areas, instead of waiting for people to come to the office. This programme is already underway and has had a huge impact," he said.
Saifuddin stressed that the issue of late registration, although involving a small number compared to the country's population, needs to be addressed immediately because it has a huge impact on the future of children.
-- BERNAMA
