Family Problems, Unregistered Marriages Leave Thousands of Malaysian Children Without Identity Documents
MACHANG, Feb 28 — Family-related challenges, including imprisoned fathers, absent mothers and unregistered marriages, have been identified as major reasons why thousands of Malaysian children are left without official identity documents each year.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said findings from late birth registration cases handled by the Home Ministry and the National Registration Department (JPN) show that family instability is a key contributing factor.
He said failure to register births promptly creates serious consequences for children, affecting their ability to obtain essential documents.
Children face long-term impact without proper documentation
Saifuddin said some children were born while their fathers were in prison, while others were abandoned by mothers who could not be located.
“These situations complicate the registration process and delay the issuance of official documents,” he said after attending an outreach programme in Machang.
He added that some parents mistakenly believe birth registration requires payment, even though it is free.
Unregistered marriages complicate registration process
He said unregistered marriages are another major cause of delayed birth registrations.
Many parents do not know how to complete the process properly.
This has resulted in an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 delayed birth registrations each year.
Tens of thousands of delayed registrations recorded
Since 2022, more than 49,000 delayed birth registrations and over 20,000 delayed MyKad registrations have been recorded.
Around 1,000 late registrations are reported monthly.
Government taking proactive measures
Saifuddin said authorities are adopting proactive approaches to help affected families.
He said outreach programmes are essential to ensure children receive proper documentation.
He stressed that identity documents are crucial for accessing education and essential services.
Ensuring every child is properly registered remains a key priority.
-wilayah.com.my
