KUCHING (Sept 6): The proposed amendments to the National Registration Act 1959 (Act 78) should also address the plight of Malaysians without identification documents, said Senator Abun Sui Anyit.
The Hulu Rajang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief said that while the Bill would strengthen registration mechanisms and enhance security through biometric data, the more pressing issue for many, particularly in rural Sarawak and Sabah, was the absence of basic identification.
"Many of them were born in Malaysia and have no other homeland, but due to systemic weaknesses and administrative shortcomings, they remain unrecognised," he said in a statement yesterday.
Abun Sui noted that undocumented individuals were barred from education, healthcare, legal employment, and full participation in national development.
He urged the government to demonstrate firm political will in resolving the matter by improving access to birth registration and MyKad issuance, ensuring that those born and raised in Malaysia are not denied citizenship, and safeguarding the basic rights of the undocumented.
"The amended National Registration Bill should be a starting point for wider reforms in resolving national identity issues, not just about adding technical powers to the ministry," he stressed.
He added that Malaysia must ensure no child born in the country is left stateless, noting that the nation's future cannot exclude those regarded as belonging nowhere.
The National Registration (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed by the Dewan Rakyat via voice vote on Aug 27, and was among five Bills approved by the Dewan Rakyat on Sept 4.