PETALING JAYA: More stringent checks on births of babies is being carried out by the National Registration Department (NRD) following the discovery of false information in the registration of births in its system.
In several social media posts, the Federal Territory NRD said several arrests were made after the department’s screening system detected false statements submitted in the registration of official documents, including births.
The arrests were part of the department’s Ops Terancang to curb the use of false information in its registration process.
In a social media post on June 11, a 56-year-old local man was arrested after the NRD screening system detected false statements submitted in the registration of official documents.
The case was brought to the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court for prosecution on the same day.
The NRD said based on the charge, the individual in question was found to have knowingly submitted false information when applying for a First-Time Identity Card at the identity card division of the Kuala Lumpur NRD office.
Offenders can be punished with a fine, jail or both.
The NRD said even though non-citizen couples come to the NRD to register the birth of their child, it does not mean that their child will be issued a green birth certificate.
“In the case of children of non-citizens, the NRD will issue a pink Non-Citizen Birth Certificate. This shows that the birth has been legally registered, but is not proof of Malaysian citizenship.
“A birth register means birth record while citizenship is determined by law,” the NRD said.
Lawyer Larissa Ann Louis, who handles cases of stateless children and citizenship, cautioned prospective parents not to use intermediaries or agents or they may end up as suspects in fraudulent birth registration.
“Do not pay for a new born baby as it’s technically a form of baby trafficking.
“Agents of middlemen will provide you with a birth certificate with your name as the child’s parent following payment.
“But when applying for a MyKad at 12 years old, the NRD will seize the fraudulent birth certificate.
“The child becomes stateless because you don’t know the heritage of the child. By then, your agent has disappeared.”
Louis said parents can be charged with giving false information.
OrphanCare Foundation advised prospective adoptive parents to exercise due diligence.
“This is necessary to avoid potential disappointment later, particularly when registering the child with the NRD.
“They should conduct thorough background checks on the institutions and the services they provide before proceeding with the adoption process. This helps ensure the adoption is carried out legally and in accordance with Malaysian laws,” it said.
OrphanCare, which runs a baby hatch system, said it also provides a compartment for birth mothers or family members to leave documents that help identify the babies, such as information regarding their race, religion, birth records and other relevant details.
