Perlis mufti questions NRD’s need for marriage certificate copy

By Lisa J. Ariffin

December 25, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Perlis mufti Dr Juanda Jaya questioned today the National Registration Department’s (NRD) need for copies of a marriage certificate when parents apply for their children’s identity cards.

The cleric lashed out at the civil service and Putrajaya on Friday after the NRD informed him that his daughter was not a Malaysian citizen.

“Is it not enough with the original birth certificate (of the child) and the father’s original MyKad to confirm the authentic citizenship of the applicant?” Juanda said today in a statement to The Malaysian Insider.

“Or Malaysians are not told that their parents’ position as citizens do not guarantee they are Malaysian citizens as stated in the constitution and by NRD itself?” he added.

Juanda said that while his wife was an Indonesian national, there was no reason why his young daughter should be victimised, especially since the NRD’s own records identified the latter as a Melanau.

“Moreover, while applying for the birth certificate with the same department, a copy and the original marriage certificate must be presented,” Juanda said.

“The NRD also requests a copy (of marriage certificate) each time a new child is registered, something that I have been told to do for the confirmation of status,” he added.

Juanda (picture) said this standard operating procedure must be revised, as previously stated by ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam.

Mahmood said yesterday staff manning the counter at NRD Kuching had failed to properly explain to Juanda that certain personal records have to be updated before an identity card can be issued to children in cases where their mother is a foreign national.

He said in a statement that this was in line with new requirements governing the issuance of identity cards to 12-year-olds with “citizenship-related problems”, which came into force on June 11, 2009.

Mahmood said Sumaiyah’s identity card was now ready for collection and stressed that the Home Ministry would ensure only qualified NRD staff deal with the public in the future.