SHAH ALAM, Sept 12 — Birth registrations and citizenship determination are two different things, so foreigners’ children born in Malaysia are not automatically Malaysians, said National Registration Department (JPN) Putrajaya branch officer Zalipah Ramli.
Zalipah, who is also the branch’s Enforcement Division deputy investigation director, said every birth in the country must be registered no matter race, heritage or parents’ citizenship.
She said the same applies to Rohingya children born in Malaysia.
“In the case of Rohingya or non-Malaysian children, as long as they are born in Malaysia, the informant or parents must register their births with JPN… it’s just that the birth certificate issued by JPN will be for a non-citizen according to the parents’ nationalities,” she said on Media Selangor’s Bicara Semasa programme.
She also said a child’s citizenship status depends on their parents’ nationalities and marital status at their time of birth.
“If the mother or father is Malaysian and their marriage is in order, the child has claim to Malaysian citizenship according to established provisions,” she explained.
Zalipah said among JPN’s challenges in processing citizenship applications, especially those of children, is ensuring their documents are authentic.
“For citizenship applications under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution, children born in Malaysia must be awarded a birth certificate, so we must ensure the birth certificates submitted truly belong to the children (applying for citizenship),” she added.
She also said that births in Peninsular Malaysia must be registered with JPN within 60 days so birth records are accurate.
“If it goes past 60 days, it is categorised as a late birth registration. When a mother, father or informant reports a birth past the (60-day) window, the process gets more complicated.
“JPN must verify submitted documents, including a birth verification letter if the birth is done at a healthcare facility, and the parents’ marriage certificate. JPN would also interview parents or informants,” she explained.
Zalipah urged parents not to put off registering their children’s births, and to deal directly with JPN instead of through agents or middlemen.
