Saifuddin Nasution: Home Ministry to resolve ID issues for students nationwide within a year

SEMPORNA, Dec 2 — The Home Ministry (KDN) has pledged to resolve the issue of identification documents involving 12,000 students in the country within six to 12 months.

Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said KDN, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE), has profiled approximately 12,000 students in mainstream education who lack identification documents.

“These students are in primary and secondary schools but do not have identification documents, often due to irregularities in their parents’ marriages, such as unregistered marriages. According to records shared by MOE with KDN, there are about 12,000 such students.

“These students have been identified because they are registered with District Education Offices. However, KDN and MOE will update the data to ensure none in similar circumstances are overlooked,” he said.

Saifuddin Nasution was speaking to reporters after presenting identification documents to six recipients at the Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulau Mabul here yesterday.

According to him, many people are still unaware that birth registrations must be completed within 60 days in Peninsular Malaysia and 42 days in Sabah and Sarawak.

“When late registrations occur, children may attend school without identification documents or a birth certificate; it becomes difficult to further their education. If they fall ill and need hospitalisation, they are charged higher fees. Therefore, we aim to expedite the process.