Dusun woman's battle with NRD, Muis
Published on: Thursday, February 23, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: A Dusun mum claims she has sought the release of her son's birth certificate for the umpteenth time from the National Registration Department (NRD) only to be given the run-around. Julitah Bahiau said her youngest child, Aryton Verlando, was born in Hospital Likas on Oct. 28, 2010. She applied for his birth certificate on time. However, when it was issued under Birth Certificate no: SB595631, NRD identified him as a Muslim.
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"I explained to NRD that my son has been raised as a Christian and asked for the deletion of the word Islam from the birth certificate. NRD explained that my son should be identified as a Muslim because of the word Islam in my MyKad. "I explained that I am not a Muslim and produced my baptism certificate. NRD then directed me to get an order of release from Islam from Muis to enable them to delete the word 'Islam' in my MyKad and subsequently do the correction on my son's birth certificate."NRD then took my son's original birth certificate and has withheld the same until today. No temporary certificate was given to me. I have spent a lot of money, time and energy dealing with Muis and NRD but this matter remains unresolved," she said. The distraught mother said now that her son is seven, she was unable to register him in any school as he has no birth certificate.
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"I am fed-up of being pushed around by NRD especially after being told to re-apply when I requested the department to reissue my son's birth certificate." The reapplication, she said, will be considered as a "late registration" and will cause her to go through another long process.
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"I am a native Dusun from Ranau. No native Sabahan should be treated like this! My son wants to go to school. Who can I now turn to? I am the mother of my son. I have the right to say what faith I believe in and what religion my son and I should be identified as; not NRD nor any other government authorities. I need help to get my son to school. That is the desire of any mother," she said.Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah (PAN Sabah) Chairperson Esther Golingi claimed the problems that NRD is causing the people of Sabah has reached an alarming and frightening level. She claimed that thousands, especially in the interior, are complaining about high-handed and rude NRD officers. "Against the wishes of our people, many have been purposely and/or wrongly identified as Muslims. Others have been given Muslim names against their wishes. The Malaysia Agreement guarantees us religious freedom. NRD's policies clearly are in breach of our rights! Our people are furious," she said.According to Golingi, NRD and the Federal Government have proven to be untrustworthy in handling the multi-layered problems connected with the registration of births, identification of citizens and immigration in Sabah. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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