There should be no dispute, says Alamin
Published on: Thursday, June 09, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Native Affairs Council (Mheans) on Wednesday expressed regret that government hospitals have not recognised marriage certificates issued by the Native Courts in Sabah.Its President Datuk Mohamad Alamin said such incidences should not have happened as native laws and Native Courts are recognised by the Federal Constitution."There should be no dispute and question over the use of marriage certificates by married natives in Sabah as these certificates are issued by the Native Courts and are legally binding, thus recognised by the National Registration Department.
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"In fact it should not be an issue as the Health Ministry has explained that the definition of recognised marriages stated in its circular issued in 2014 included those solemnised by Native Courts."A few months ago Mheans wrote and asked the Ministry to explain the status of marriage certificates issued by Native Courts to all government hospitals in the country to recognise them as these documents are valid under the law," he said, puzzled why this was not clearly relayed to all government hospitals in Sabah.Mohamad said this following a Daily Express report that highlighted reports of government hospitals still not recognising marriage certificates of local couples which had been issued by the Native Courts.Penampang District Chief OKK Bryan Matasing told the paper that local couples who produced marriage certificates issued by the Native Courts were turned away when they went to register their newborns lately.
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Instead, the couples were asked to pay the full RM3,200 fee that is applicable to foreigners if they wished to have their child's birth certificates.Mohamad said he was made to understand that the Health Ministry has since directed the State Health Director to inform all government hospitals on the latest development about recognising marriage certificates issued by Native Courts.
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Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the ministry is aware of the incidences where marriage certificates issued by the Native Courts were not recognised by government hospitals."The ministry would like to explain that marriage certificates registered by the Native Courts of Sabah can be used as an official document of marriage by the locals in obtaining the health services and facilities available in the Ministry.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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