By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 5: While Senator Abun Sui Anyit welcomed the Bill to make amendments to the National Registration Act 1959 (Act 78), he urged the government to see it as beyond biometrics and technical regulations and to resolve the plight of citizens without proper documentation—especially in Sarawak and Sabah’s rural areas.
In a statement, Abun, who also heads the PKR Hulu Rajang branch, commended the amendment as essential to strengthening registration mechanisms, enhancing the control of identity documents, and introducing new security aspects with biometric data.
However, he also emphasised that the major problem faced by the people today is not only related to technical aspects of registration or control of documents, but more so the issue of the absence of identity documents.
“Across the nation, especially in the interior and rural areas of Sarawak and Sabah, many citizens born in Malaysia—who embrace their identity as Malaysians—still live without official recognition due to the lack of basic documents.
“They are not migrants, they have no other homeland, but because of systemic constraints and administrative weaknesses, they continue to be marginalised,” he said.
He stated that individuals without documentation are unable to attend school, receive proper healthcare, or work legally, and are thus excluded from the country’s development.
Therefore, he urged the government to do the following:
- Implement a comprehensive solution to ensure that all citizens born and raised in Malaysia are not continually denied their right to citizenship.
- Simplify access to birth registration and the issuance of MyKad with a system that is fairer, more transparent, and proactive.
- Safeguard the fundamental rights of undocumented citizens so that they are not excluded from education, healthcare, and the opportunity for a dignified life.
“The amendments should serve as a starting point for greater reform in resolving the problem of national identity, not merely adding technical powers to the ministry.
The future of our nation must not include citizens who are considered ‘not belonging to any country in the world’. Malaysia must ensure that every child born on this land is recognised and valued as a citizen,” he said.
According to Bernama, the Bill introduces biometric records, including 10 fingerprints and facial and iris recognition, to reduce identity fraud and ensure accurate issuance of documents.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the enhanced biometric database would also boost national security, border control and cross-border crime detection, as well as support investigations by linking suspects with crime scene evidence. — DayakDaily
