I read with sadness and anger the Malaysiakini article Little Darshini and the how of marginalisation which told of a little girl's inability to obtain a birth certificate despite being born in this country to parents who are citizens of Malaysia.

What I would like to share is the knowledge that Darshini is not alone. And this problem is not only endemic to the Indian community. Here in Sabah, many native non-Muslim parents are facing the same problem.

For some reason or another, the Registrar of Births and Deaths has decided not to produce birth certificates for children whose parents were married in church by non-registered clergymen (meaning clergymen who are not licensed as Assistant Registrars of marriage).

Secondly, the Registrar of Births and Deaths also refuses to produce birth certificates for children in cases where one parent is a Muslim and the other is not. This is despite the marriage being recognised by the Natives Court through native customs.

In cases where the Registrar of Births does not produce a birth certificate, the father’s name is omitted. This issue was even raised by a few readers in the Daily Express (a Sabahan daily) not too long ago.

According to the Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance 1951 which governs all births and deaths registration in Sabah, there is no provision for the Registrar of Births to demand a marriage certificate. Even where a child is considered to be born out of wedlock, the mother has a right request that the father's name be included.

I believe the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1975 that is used in West Malaysia also contains no such provisions. But what we have now are many children turning up in schools showing birth certificates which do not have their father's name printed on it.

Why is the Registrar of Births stigmatising these poor children who have done no wrong? Why should they be punished for something that is no fault of theirs.

Where is the caring attitude of the government in such cases? The government, through the National Registration Department has made life miserable for many people, especially non-Muslims be they Indians like Darshini or the native Kadazandusuns and Muruts in Sabah.

We just pray that someone caring enough for the plight of these paperless children will do something to correct this injustice.