Groups: System overhaul needed to tackle human trafficking
PETALING JAYA: The risk of fake birth certificates contributing to human trafficking, particularly involving children, is a serious concern, according to human rights groups.
Experts are calling for urgent reforms to prevent the issue from worsening.
Adrian Pereira, executive director and co-founder of the North-South Initiative, said there must be a higher standard of monitoring to deter professionals from becoming involved in these syndicates.
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“This issue seems to involve multiple professions that need to be monitored. There must be a gold standard to prevent their members from getting involved in such syndicates.
“This is not the first time this has happened. The professional bodies failed to uphold the integrity of their members,” he said, urging for the masterminds to be charged and convicted.
It was reported yesterday that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained 16 individuals for allegedly bribing officials to register non-citizen births as Malaysians.
Piles of evidence: MACC personnel looking through documents associated with a fake birth certificate scheme.
Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna, director of the advocacy group Our Journey, stressed the urgent need for reforms within the system, highlighting that fake registrations could facilitate child trafficking.
She said these syndicates could allow traffickers to transport children across borders unnoticed using counterfeit documents.
“Fraudulent birth registration schemes are tied to human trafficking, particularly child trafficking, making it easier for traffickers to move children across borders without raising suspicion.
“This scheme is also linked to illegal adoptions, where the true origin of kidnapped children is hidden with fake documents, potentially leading to child trafficking and exploitation,” she said.
To address these issues, she urged the implementation of a fully-automated birth registration system to ensure the integrity of the officers involved.
“This scheme could not have been possible without the involvement of government officials.
“So, internal mechanisms should be strengthened to prevent unauthorised use.
“Malaysia should also fully automate its hospital and National Registration Department data integration, which is designed to streamline the birth registration, including all private hospitals and clinics,” she added.
Daniel Khoo, chief public relations officer of the Malaysian Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), warned that fake birth certificates could pave the way for larger fraud issues involving undocumented foreigners in Malaysia.
He warned that if foreign individuals managed to acquire these important documents, they could misuse them to access assistance schemes.
“This would obviously affect the country’s resources as the undocumented foreign individuals might apply for assistance from the government or even non-governmental organisations,” he said.
“The government needs to take serious action, especially if it involves people in the system itself. We’re afraid that this would attract more migrants entering the country and getting fake documents from such a scheme,” Khoo added.
Meanwhile, Ragunath Kesavan, commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), said the fraudulent registration of a birth certificate constitutes a criminal offence.
However, he said the scheme might not only involve non-citizens, as local children born out of wedlock could also be affected.
“Fraudulent registrations involve numerous parties and this has to be investigated, and action must be taken against anyone who is involved.
“Part of the reason for fraudulent registration of birth certificates is the difficulties imposed for adoption of children and the stigma of the endorsement in birth certificates stating that the child is adopted,” he said.
