Siblings' Long Wait For Identity Cards Ends

RAWANG, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- Seven siblings received their long-awaited identity cards today at their family home in Bandar Sungai Buaya here.

They are Ahmad Shahmil Ismail, 30; Muhammad Fazril, 29; Nur Hakimah, 26; Nur Hakikah, 24; Nur Laila, 22; Nur Shakila, 19; and Zakaria, 17.

The siblings’ applications for late registration of their birth certificates were approved on Dec 8, 2025, and their identity cards were subsequently approved on Dec 23.

National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias said the delay was caused by their parents’ unregistered marriage, which had affected the issuance of identity documents for their children.

The matter became more complex following the death of the siblings’ father in 2023, making it necessary to obtain DNA samples from close relatives, such as an uncle, to establish parentage.

“Once the application details were received, the department asked the family to attend the NRD office for checks through the Birth and Death Division, as well as further investigations to confirm the children’s relationship with their parents,” he told reporters after handing over the identity documents to the siblings.

He said investigations, including DNA tests, confirmed the family ties, while the parents’ marriage was re-registered and ratified by the court, a crucial requirement before birth certificates could be issued with citizenship status.

“Once all requirements are met, the birth certificates can be issued, followed by the identity cards,” he said.

Badrul Hisham also urged all Malaysian citizens to ensure their marriages are registered in accordance with the law, noting that registration is not only an administrative requirement but also provides essential protection for children’s rights in the future.

“Every marriage and birth must be registered, whether involving citizens or non-citizens. Foreign nationals in Malaysia must also ensure their children’s births are registered in line with regulations to prevent them from encountering problems caused by the lack of official identity documents,” he said.

He added that, based on NRD data last year, 4,497 applications for late registration of identity cards were received, while 9,528 applications involved late birth registrations.

He said that this year, the department will step up efforts and conduct more field programmes to detect and resolve cases involving identity documents.

-- BERNAMA