2 months enough time for registering births, says Nur Jazlan

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed says new RM1,000 fine only applies to Peninsular Malaysia, where many platforms have been provided to register newborns.

JOHOR BAHRU: Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the two months given to register the birth of a child is more than adequate especially in peninsular Malaysia as many platforms and avenues have been provided for the purpose.

The registration was now further simplified with the establishment of the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), Rural Transformation Centre (RTC), National Registration Department’s (NRD) mobile unit as well as NRD branch offices nationwide.

He said the RM1,000 fine for late registration of birth was part of the proposed regulations that were being studied and the amount was the same amount of fine imposed on those who lost their MyKad more than thrice.

“The fine is based on the amendment of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Act 299). In the amendment, there is an addition to Section 12 of the Subsection 1A which states that the fine may be reduced or waived by the registrar based on the prescribed guidelines.

“This means that there is room for discretion for certain cases,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

On claims that such fines would burden the people from the interior of Sabah and Sarawak, Nur Jazlan said it was a non-issue.

“Act 299 only applies in peninsular Malaysia and not enforced in Sabah and Sarawak. The two states are subjected to the Sabah Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance 1951 (CAP 123) and Sarawak Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance 1951 (CAP 10).”

Nur Jazlan said birth registration within the prescribed period was crucial as it was closely related to other matters adding late registration would make the process of immunisation and vaccination of babies difficult. -FMT