MARANG: The National Registration Department (NRD) has received 1,575 applications to shorten lengthy names on birth certificates since 2024.
Its director-general, Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias (pic), said of the total, 719 applications to shorten names were received in 2024, followed by 624 applications in 2025 and 232 applications recorded from January this year until May 29.
"The role and function of the NRD is as a registrar. Therefore, we do not prevent anyone from registering their child’s name regardless of how long it may be.
"However, as a registrar, we can advise the public to consider the future implications, for example, when filling in forms or handling official matters such as marriage.
"Based on our experience, many parents who choose long names eventually return to amend and shorten their children’s names,” he told reporters after the Santuni Madani Programme at the Kampung Padang Tanjung Mosque near Bukit Payong here on Friday (May 29).
He said the NRD was always ready to assist individuals who wished to amend or shorten names, and they could do so by visiting any NRD counter.
In another development, he said the NRD was in the final stages of preparations to implement amendments to Article 15(2) of the Federal Constitution relating to citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers.
He said that based on the amendments passed in Parliament, children born overseas to Malaysian mothers would automatically obtain Malaysian citizenship without the need to submit an application.
"Previously, children born overseas to Malaysian mothers whose fathers were non-citizens had to apply for citizenship. In contrast, if the father was a Malaysian citizen, citizenship was granted automatically.
"This situation created an imbalance affecting mothers. Therefore, the amendment was pursued and received majority support in Parliament. We are now only awaiting the enforcement date,” he said.
Earlier, Badrul Hisham, who is also a native of Kampung Padang Tanjung, said four cows contributed by various parties were sacrificed today and distributed to villagers, while some of the sacrificial meat was cooked and enjoyed together by the local community.
He also officiated the dining hall at the mosque, built through the NRD’s Madani Adopted Village allocation for 2025, to serve as a facility and centre for community activities and programmes for local residents. - Bernama
