MARANG: The National Registration Department (NRD) has recorded 60,698 births involving individuals classified under Myanmar-related categories, including holders of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards.
NRD director-general Badrul Hisham said the figure, which covers the period from 2000 to June 19 2026, is based on three categories, including Myanmar-related classifications and UNHCR cardholders.
"So these are the three categories recorded. As for the UNHCR cardholder category, not all of them are Rohingya; there are also other groups. However, the majority are ethnic Rohingya," he said.
He told reporters after officiating the NRD's Santuni Madani programme at Kampung Padang Tanjung here on Saturday (June 20).
However, Badrul Hisham said being born in Malaysia does not automatically entitle citizenship, adding that it is determined by the status and circumstances of the parents in accordance with legal provisions.
Meanwhile, he acknowledged that some births involving foreign nationals in Malaysia remain unregistered due to various factors, including parents' fear of facing action for offences such as overstaying, lacking valid travel documents or residing in the country without valid permits.
"It is not only foreigners. Some Malaysians are also reluctant to register their children's births, which is why we have cases of late birth registration arising from various factors such as unregistered marriages, family problems and others," he said.
In this regard, he said the NRD continuously conducts outreach through the Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) programme to ensure that all eligible Malaysians possess birth and identity documents.
Earlier, Badrul Hisham said the NRD Santuni Madani held on Saturday was aimed, among other things, at strengthening ties between the department and more than 800 residents of the village.
Various activities were organised for all segments of the community, including the Madani Rahmah Sale, a sepak takraw tournament, a colouring contest for children and services related to birth certificates and identity cards, among others.
"The programme also received cooperation from various parties, including other government agencies. This reflects the commitment of government agencies in ensuring that the Madani Government's agenda is successfully implemented," he said. – Bernama
