I am deeply disappointed with the National Registration Department (NRD). I gave birth to my second child on 9 January 2009. However, I only went to the NRD after the required 42-day registration period because I was still recovering from my caesarean. I believed the registration is within 45-days after birth.

Anyway, when I went to the NRD in Sri Petaling, I was told that they cannot register me anymore since I was late and therefore have to go to their headquarters in Maju Junction Mall. Upon arrival at the headquarters, we were told to get ready a list of documents to be submitted to them -- our ICs, marriage certificate, immunisation records, photos of the whole family including my older child, copy of my older child's birth certificate, and my pre-natal appointment card as well as a letter from the commissioner of oath.

When I went back to submit all these documents, I was told that I had to come back for an interview. And I had to bring my baby with me. This was in February and the interview took place only on 26th May 2009, two to three months later. I was told that they only conduct three interviews a day despite their admission that there are many people who are waiting to register their children.

When I went yesterday, I was expecting that they will ask me relevant questions and have a good look at my baby to see if she resembles me or my husband and to even take a DNA swab since I was under the impression we were seen to have bought this child. But nothing intelligent like that happened. Instead, we were told that we would be interviewed separately -- me with my baby and my husband on his own.

The questions asked were: where were you married, when were you married, how many children do you have, where did you give birth, who performed the delivery, did you get pre-natal check-ups, why were you late, and when was the child born. That was it. All the answers to the questions were in the document that was submitted to them and my poor baby was exposed to the dirty environment in the department.

The same questions were asked of my husband, which leads me to think that they were actually trying to see if my husband and I were actually married, instead of helping us quickly get our baby's registration done.

When the interview was concluded, I asked what was the next process, expecting I would obtain my baby's birth certificate on the spot. Instead, I was told that I had to wait for another one and half months to see if they approve my application. After that I had to wait for one more month to obtain my baby's MyKid. In total, I've to wait for an additional two to three months, assuming they would approve of my application.

When I questioned why the need to wait when we had done all the paperwork and the interview, I was told flatly because I was late. And the lady who interviewed me was outright rude too. They did not take into consideration that my delivery was complicated and I was in pain and discomfort. On top of that my baby was a colic and had to be cared for all the time. I was scolded for not getting my husband to come, but then, who will care for me and the baby if my husband had gone off? We were just a family trying to make good of our baby's early days and we went as soon as we can.

I was also stating that since we did not have the birth cert, I could not obtain an insurance policy for my child. I was told. "Tak payah beli lah! Siapa suruh lambat?" Oh my, such empathy shown. I am really annoyed and angry with this. I admit I am at fault but there is really no need to penalise my baby for it.

On the registration form, it was clearly stated that should we be late than 42 days, we would be fined not more than RM50. If the NRD really did want to make it tough on the parents, then impose a higher fine. I am sure we will gladly pay in exchange for not penalising the kids.

Really NRD, what were you thinking when you imposed such a hassle on us? Did you think that it was going to deter people? This is going to be my second and last baby. What has NRD taught me with these type of processes in place? That they are inefficient? That I really regret having to pay their salaries? That NRD does not place the needs of us Malaysians over the needs of foreigners? Why do we approve applications of foreigners by the buckets when we are putting our own nationality at risk by not issuing them their rightful documentation?

This type of mindset and attitude is exactly why we see Malaysians are leaving their homeland and not come back.