We refer to the Malaysiakini report Fathers abduct own kids to foreign countries, authorities indifferent .

The National Registration Department (NRD) would like to clarify the comment made by Ms Farah Shamsuddin regarding the issuance of a new birth certificate with the name changed for Dannya Hana Leanora.

For your readers kind information, alterations to the name of a child less than 12 months can be applied for and approved under the provision of Section 15(1), Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Act 299), which states:

‘Where before the expiration of one year from date of the birth of any child the name which it is registered is altered or where a child has been registered without a name is given to such child before twelve months have elapsed since the date of birth, the Superintendent-Registrar having the custody the register in which the birth was registered upon delivery to him of a certificate in the prescribed form specifying the name as altered or as given signed by the father or the mother or the guardian or the person for the time being having custody of the child….".

In such case, if the application submitted to the department is complete and in order, the National Registration Department has no right to reject the application.

The NRD would like to stress that the allegations on indifference being practiced by us are untrue. The NRD shall at all times carry out our duties and responsibilities in accordance to the acts and procedures that have been stated.

The writer represents the director-general, National Registration Department.