Kuala lumpur: Unregistered marriages, the imprisonment of parents, and misunderstandings over purported high registration costs are among the key reasons that tens of thousands nationwide remain without identification documents. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed that complex family issues have led to late registration cases, involving birth certificates and identity cards (MyKad), continuing to be recorded at an average of about 12,000 to 13,000 cases annually.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution explained that situations such as a child being born while the father is imprisoned or when parents disappear without a trace contribute significantly to these registration delays. Unregistered marriages also leave mothers confused and unsure where to register their child. Additionally, misunderstandings about registration costs deter some from registering their children, despite the process being free of charge.

To address these issues, Saifuddin Nasution assured that the government provides exemptions from fines or compounds for late registration cases. He emphasized the need to address the root of the problem by waiving charges and treating these cases as special, with no fines imposed and full exemptions granted.

Acknowledging the constraints faced by the affected groups, he stated that the National Registration Department (NRD) has intensified outreach efforts with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) instead of waiting for applicants at its counters. A notable collaboration with NGO Jejak Jalanan resolved a two-generation documentation issue involving a family in Kelantan, enabling nine members to receive their birth certificates, MyKid, and MyKad in less than a month.

In a related development, the government has secured Cabinet Committee approval to provide a fast-track Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathway for teenagers who dropped out of school due to the lack of a MyKad. Saifuddin Nasution instructed the director-general to submit the names of these teenagers immediately, ensuring their enrollment in TVET programmes where they will be trained in skills such as sewing, cooking, and other vocational fields to secure their future.