7 Rawang siblings get ICs, can now access education and jobs

 

Seven siblings from Rawang, Selangor, are finally able to live normal lives after they received their identification cards today.

Ahmad Shahmil Ismail, 30; Fazril Ismail, 29; Nur Hakimah Ismail, 26; Nur Hakikah Ismail, 24; Nur Laila Ismail, 22; Nur Shakila Ismail, 19; and Zakaria Ismail, 17, have been without any official birth certificates and identification cards.

This was because the parents failed to register their wedding and their children’s births officially.

The lack of documentation led to all seven siblings, who are from Kampung Tanjung Sungai Choh, growing up without any formal education, proper jobs, and basic freedoms enjoyed by their fellow Malaysians, said fourth sibling Nur Hakikah.

She said they made do by learning informally on their own, by watching television, and listening to people’s conversations, as well as learning the alphabet and how to write in stages.

“We had no schooling. We learned bit by bit. We promised ourselves, we would keep learning even if we couldn’t go to school.

“Life certainly wasn’t normal. We felt restricted going anywhere as we didn’t have any identification cards,” she said after they received their identification cards in Bandar Sungai Buaya, Rawang, today.

They personally received them from National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Badrul Hisham Alias.

Aside from a lack of formal education, the siblings’ problems also extended to job opportunities, as most employers refused to hire them.

Thus, they relied solely on part-time jobs without any social security protection as they were unable to contribute to any official schemes.

“People would say, whose children are these, why aren’t they in school, but we slowly managed to get used to the teasing and humiliation that became part of our lives,” she said as she recalled the anxiety and stigma they suffered.

Her sister, Nur Shakila, 19, described the identification card she received today as a ray of hope for her to secure an education and change her future.

“I really do want to get an education. Even without a schooling background, I’m confident it’s not too late for me to change my future,” she said.

DNA tests conducted

Meanwhile, Badrul explained that the late registrations were due to the unregistered marriage of the siblings’ parents, which became more complicated when the father died in 2023.

He shared that the siblings received approval for Late Birth Certificate Registration on Dec 8, followed by Late Identification Card Registration on Dec 23, following an investigation and confirmation of relations through DNA samples to their nearest relatives, such as their uncle.

National Registration Department director-general Badrul Hisham Alias

“Once the application details were received, the department asked the family to attend the NRD office for checks through the Birth and Death Division, as well as further investigations to confirm the children’s relationship with their parents,” he told reporters after handing over the identity documents to the siblings.

He said the parents’ marriage was re-registered and ratified by the court, a crucial requirement before birth certificates could be issued with citizenship status.

“Once all requirements are met, the birth certificates can be issued, followed by the identity cards,” he said.

Call to get registered

Badrul also urged all Malaysian citizens to ensure their marriages are registered in accordance with the law, noting that registration is not only an administrative requirement but also provides essential protection for children’s rights in the future.

“Every marriage and birth must be registered, whether involving citizens or non-citizens. Foreign nationals in Malaysia must also ensure their children’s births are registered in line with regulations to prevent them from encountering problems caused by the lack of official identity documents,” he said.

National Registration Department office

He added that, based on NRD data last year, 4,497 applications for late registration of identity cards were received, while 9,528 applications involved late birth registrations.

He also stressed that it is not true that individuals would be arrested if they showed up at the NRD to register their weddings, including weddings or births at borders.

He said that this year, the department will step up efforts and conduct more field programmes to detect and resolve cases involving identity documents.

- Bernama