By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Oct 23: Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah wants Sarawakian parents to adhere to a proper procedure when registering their children to avoid any issues in the future.
According to Fatimah, this also includes individuals who wish to adopt children, whereby they must acquire proper documentation or a Statutory Declaration from their community leaders, to prove that the children were born locally in the village by a local biological mother.
“As such, we would like to remind individuals out there to avoid anything that can contribute to the complication of registering their children due to improper marriage registration. We also urge all parents to get their marriage properly registered too, to avoid any complication when registering their children for birth certificates.
“For adoption process, it is also a must to go for a proper procedure, and we would like to remind those who wish to make an adoption, to conduct their process properly through the right procedure and channel,” said Fatimah during a press conference held after a meeting with the National Registration Department (JPN) Sarawak, at Baitulmakmur II building in Petra Jaya, today.
Meanwhile, she disclosed beginning November this year, parents can obtain the “Bantuan Ibu Bersalin” (BIB) assistance at all 52 JPN Sarawak counters throughout the state
“Apart from that, the parents also can register for the Endowment Fund Sarawak, which is the RM1,000 saving account in Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), when registering for their birth certificate,” she added.
At the same time, Fatimah also assured that her ministry will continue to pursue the application to reinstate the Special Task Force Committee under the Article 15A of the Federal Constitution, to help expedite the citizenship registration process in Sarawak.
Fatimah pointed out that her ministry is concerned about this issue because it is one of the ministry’s focus areas.
“Every child has a right to a name and nationality and we have to help these children, especially those involving native Sarawakian who do not have their own personal identity documentation.
“Apart from that, we also requested for a special consideration for those children who are put under the ministry’s department, as it would help to expedite their adoption process without issues and it will be a big help to those parents who wish to adopt them,” she said. –DayakDaily.
