Kota Kinabalu: Indonesian Consul General in Kota Kinabalu, Noorman Effendi, said marriage registration is an important effort by the state to build strong Indonesian families.
“The service we are providing is not simply about registering a marriage. More importantly, we are ensuring that every Indonesian family receives legal recognition, state protection and a strong foundation for the future of their children,” he said during the marriage for protection (Menikum) programme 2.0 organised by the Consulate General here from June 30 to July 3, for 71 couples.
Noorman said most Indonesians within the consulate’s jurisdiction live in plantation areas with limited access to transport and financial resources.
As such, the integrated programmes provide a practical solution to bring government services closer to the community while expanding access to fundamental civil rights.
Senior Adviser to the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs for Inter-Institutional Relations, Prasetya Hadi highlighted the importance of inter-ministerial and inter-agency collaboration in delivering more inclusive public services to Indonesians living overseas.
“The programme demonstrates that collaboration between ministries can bring government services closer to the people.
“Through strong synergy, we are not only issuing administrative documents but also ensuring that the civil rights of Indonesian citizens are fulfilled as part of the state’s responsibility to protect all Indonesians, wherever they may be,” he said.
The three-day programme will enable 71 Indonesian couples in Sabah to obtain legal recognition of their marriages, strengthening legal protection for their families.
The initiative reflects the Indonesian Government’s commitment to ensuring that Indonesians living abroad receive legal recognition, protection of their civil rights, and improved access to government services.
For many Indonesians working on plantations in Sabah, a legally recognised marriage certificate provides a foundation for protecting the family, ensuring legal certainty for spouses and children, and facilitating access to essential services such as birth registration, civil administration, education and healthcare.
Participants also received integrated civil administration services, including updates to population records, the issuance of a single identification number, changes to marital status records, and birth registration certificates for their children.
The integrated approach allows families to complete multiple essential administrative processes through a single programme, improving convenience, efficiency and legal certainty.
The Menikum programme, first introduced by the Indonesian Consulate General in 2011, is part of an ongoing effort to bring government services closer to Indonesian citizens living overseas.
