There is a sizeable number of Malaysians without birth certificates and/or identity cards due to various reasons such as family complications, a sociologist with the Social Strategic Foundation (YSS) said.

YSS executive director, Dr Denison Jayasooria, believes this segment of Malaysians are leading 'invisible' lives without any identification papers, which contributes to various social problems.

"Why has the system failed to address this situation? Question is, how can mothers fail to register their newborns?

"Although the onus is on the individual, but what role does the NRD (National Registration Department) and the Information Department play in promoting public awareness?" he asked.

He said there was a sizeable number of similar cases among the Malays, and the Orang Asli in Peninsula Malaysia as well as the Orang Asal communities in Sabah and Sarawak.

He also pointed out that the problem has long-term damaging effects on the family unit.

"It ruins the future of children and their families. It is important to reach the root of the problem," he said, noting that no critical analysis has been done on this issue.

Widespread ignorance

V Vanita Ramany, a YSS case officer, said previously, widespread ignorance, particularly within the Malaysian Indian community, led to many children not having a birth certificate.

"This is not a new problem but nothing much has changed over, say, in the last 50 years.

"But it has resulted in a host of legal and social problems including schooling, applying for an IC upon attaining the age of 12 and the inability to secure proper jobs," she said when met in Kuala Lumpur.

Now, she said, ignorance was no longer a factor in cases where adults or children have no valid documents.

"Most people are already aware of the importance of the documents. But they can't be bothered to register a birth or apply for an IC. The ' tidak peduli ' (don't care) attitude is now prevalent among the young.

"As a result, it is the children who are ultimately the victim," she said, adding that social stigma was a major problem for children caught in such situations.

Vanita, who handles IC and birth certificate cases for the MIC's social arm from several states, also blames the NRD for delaying the processing of late applications.

(The law provides for late application of birth certificates and ICs, with a small fine as penalty.)

"Although assurances are given about prompt processing, the reality speaks differently. Many counter staff make life difficult for the applicants... most of whom are very poor and illiterate."

Relating the applicants' encounter, she said the counter staff treated them badly and dismissed inquiries into the status of their applications.

"In fact, the applicants were told not to ask for a time-frame because 'we know what our job is'."

When contacted on the applicants' behalf, Vanita said NRD officers told her that the documents were ready for collection.

She said delays and red-tape at the department level has led to a lot of legal and social implications.

NRD counters

YSS volunteer, Jothi Rethnaraj, said one practical solution would be to set up NRD counters at hospitals for easy registration of birth.

"Either parent can do it on the spot. If the mother is bed-ridden, the father can do it. If there is no father, then a relative or friend can do it by providing the mother's full particulars.

"Another option is to register before the mother delivers the baby, especially in rural areas. I believe this can help resolve most of the cases involving late application for birth certificates," she said.

Jothi, a businesswoman and mother of three, also questioned the rationale behind the 14-day requirement to register a birth.

"I think it is too long and many things can happen within that period."

She said since a working father would already be on leave to be with his wife and newborn child, the time could be used to register the birth immediately, if the law says so.

"Imagine the hassle the father or both parents have to go through by queueing at the NRD on another day, not to mention asking for leave again."

She said the government is responsible for raising public awareness on the importance of registering births, which leads to bigger problems involving the application of ICs.

Jothi said the government could use the effective medium of TV, radio and newspapers to reach out to the remote villages in the country.

"As for reaching out to the Malaysian Indians, related information can be channeled via government agencies who visit Tamil schools regularly for dental and medial visits."

She said talks on birth certificate and IC applications could also be conducted by grassroots or community leaders at temples, given its central role in people's lives.

The NRD could not be reached for comments.