NRD: Birth certs for kids not citizenship for foreign parents

A settlement of illegal immigrants is seen near Kota Kinabalu February 20, 2012. — File pic

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 21 — The issuance of birth certificates to children of foreigners born in Sabah is not a validation of citizenship, said the public relations officer of the National Registration Department, Sabah, Jainisah Mohd Noor.

She said although every birth must be registered with the department, the determination of citizenship was based on the law, including the marriage of the parents in this country.

“Many people had the perception that children of foreigners possessing the department’s birth certificate obtained citizenship status automatically. Actually, this is incorrect.

“The birth certificate issued actually does not recognise the children of foreigners as citizens. But the certificate is only as an acknowledgement that the child concerned was born in this country,” she said at a briefing entitled “The Evolution of the Identity Card and Birth Certificate in Sabah” organised by the State Information Department and the State Special Affairs Department with the State Registration Department, here today.

However, Jainisah said that the child of a foreign couple could be recognised as a citizen if the couple were permanent residents of the country and their marriage was recognised in Malaysia. — Bernama