Law or policy reform enabling acquisition of nationality by registration
Although legal solutions to address statelessness exist, complicated administrative
and bureaucratic procedures prevent many from accessing citizenship and civil
documentation. The authority responsible for issuing civil documentation and registering
births is the National Registration Department (NRD) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Since State registration offices are authorized to administer their own bureaucratic
procedures, the provision of supporting documents required to make a successful
claim for nationality was not applied consistently. Many were therefore left without the
documentation needed to prove their claims to Malaysian nationality. High application
fees also present a barrier. Late birth registration penalties can amount to RM 1,00042
(USD 250) and DNA tests to prove parentage and therefore claim to citizenship range
from RM1,500 to RM2,500 (USD 375 – USD 625). Upon naturalization, formerly stateless
persons are required to pay RM300 (USD 75) for a citizenship certificate as a precursor
to obtaining an identity card.
Government efforts to identify and assist undocumented persons
In 2010, a Special Implementation Task Force (SITF) was set up under the Cabinet
Committee on the Indian Community (Prime-Minister’s Office) in coordination with the
Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Registration Department. The rationale for
the SITF was to ensure that Malaysian Indians can access the services, programs and
projects of the Federal government in a just, fair and equitable manner.43
From 2011 to 2017, the SITF carried out the ‘My Daftar Campaign’ to identify and assist
undocumented persons by conducting mobile registration campaigns. Through the
MyDaftar Campaign, the Government issued birth certificates and national identity cards
to more than 7,000 applicants.44 Out of the 12,726 applications received, about 10,000
cases pertained to citizenship, 4,400 of which led to citizenship.45
42 “RM1,000 fine for late registration of births”, The Star, 11 October 2017, available at: www.thestar.com.my/news/
nation/2017/10/11/fine-for-late-birth-registration/.
43 In 2017, the SITF and three other units focusing on addressing issues facing the Indian community were consolidated and
merged into a single unit for the Socioeconomic Development of Indian Community (SEDIC).
44 “Mega MyDaftar drive to help Indians”, The Star, 8 May 2017, available at: www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/05/08/
mega-mydaftar-drive-to-help-indians/
45 “Mega MyDaftar’ campaign to reach Indians facing documentation woes, Subramaniam says”, The Malay Mail, 15 May 2017,
available at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2017/05/15/mega-mydaftar-campaign-to-reach-indians-facingdocumentation-woes-subramani/1377249
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