KUALA LUMPUR: Parents and guardians have been urged to be more responsible and aware of their obligation to register their children’s births to prevent future documentation complications.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that although late birth registration statistics are declining, the annual figures remain significant.
"In 2023, a total of 13,474 late birth registrations were recorded, followed by 12,363 cases in 2024 and 10,537 in 2025. As of March 31 this year, 1,970 cases have been recorded," he said at the presentation of ‘Mekar Didik’ documents at Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih on Thursday (April 16).
Saifuddin noted that the annual figures indicate an average of about 1,000 births per month are not registered within the legally prescribed period.
“If not addressed now, these children may face difficulties in the future, particularly when accessing government assistance that requires a MyKad,” he added.
Birth registration must be completed within 60 days in Peninsular Malaysia, and within 40 days for Sabah and Sarawak. Saifuddin stressed that the National Registration Department operates 212 offices nationwide and conducts outreach programmes under its Mekar initiative to facilitate registration.
“Investigations found that factors contributing to undocumented children include unregistered marriages and social issues, which leave children without proper documentation into adulthood,” he said.
On a separate matter regarding Amanah’s interest in contesting seats like Putrajaya, Labuan and Titiwangsa in the 16th General Election, Saifuddin said allocations would be decided through the Pakatan Harapan secretariat and its seat negotiation committee.
“We will bring it to the secretariat. We have a seat negotiation committee. That is the process. When the time comes, we will begin discussions. It is not a major issue,” said Saifuddin, who is the Pakatan secretary-general. - Bernama
