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Thousands register for birth certificates and identity cards. |
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Wednesday, 06 February 2008 |
KLANG, 6 Feb (The Star) -- Thousands thronged the Klang Municipal Council hall here yesterday during a birth certificate and identity card registration exercise, clearing out about 3,000 applications forms in less than two hours.
The exercise, organised by Klang MIC, saw young and old applicants from the Indian community in Selangor and other states waiting hours before registration started at 9am.
By the time Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo arrived at 11am, the form tray was empty.
“It is unexpected to see so many people without birth certificates and identity cards here,” said Dr Mohd Khir after checking the registration counters at Dewan Hamzah.
He said besides people from Selangor who were facing “stateless” problems, he was also surprised to see many from states as far as Johor and Kedah throng the hall.
“There were also a small number of Chinese who came to register,” he added.
He said the state government had asked for help from non-governmental organisations and the MIC to compile information on the matter.
Dr Mohd Khir said the state government had also spoken to the Home Ministry to form a task force through the National Registration Department (NRD) to address the “stateless” issue as soon as possible.
He said the NRD should handle the issue objectively and act quickly because identification documents were very important for the people.
“The state government will help in whatever way it can to speed up the process.”
Dr Mohd Khir added that many did not register their children for birth certificates in the state because they misunderstood that their children could not get the document as their husbands had no identity cards.
He said the exercise had nothing to do with the coming general election. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 February 2008 )
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