KUALA LUMPUR – The Home Ministry aims to address the issue of 12,000 students without identification documents within six to 12 months, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
According to Saifuddin, collaboration between the Home Ministry and the Education Ministry (MOE) has led to the profiling of 12,000 students currently enrolled in mainstream education but lacking identification documents.
“These students are in primary and secondary schools but do not have identification documents, often due to irregularities such as unregistered parental marriages,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.
“This number has been identified as they are registered with the District Education Office, but KDN (Home Ministry) and MOE will update the data to account for others who may fall into the same category,” he added.
Saifuddin made the remarks after presenting identification documents to six recipients during the Program Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulau Mabul in Semporna today.
The minister also highlighted the lack of awareness regarding the registration of births, which must be done within 60 days in Peninsular Malaysia and 42 days in Sabah and Sarawak.
“When late registration occurs, children may face difficulties attending school without identification or, if they lack a birth certificate, may struggle to continue their education after finishing school. If they fall ill and go to the hospital, they could face higher charges. Today, we want to expedite the process.
“That is why the National Registration Department (NRD) has introduced this initiative, bringing its services to rural areas, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. The programme includes visiting bedridden individuals at home and assisting those in care homes or elderly centres with their identification documents,” Saifuddin said.
He noted that Mekar has significantly benefited targeted groups in Sabah, with 188 programmes conducted to date, demonstrating the government’s commitment to assisting remote communities. – December 1, 2024