Wednesday, December 19, 2007

WEDNESDAY-19TH DECEMBER 2007- Letter from JP or village head for IC is illegal, says MP

Letter from JP or village head for IC is illegal, says MP
KOTA KINABALU: Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Majimbun said the use of a statutory declaration letter from a Justice of the Peace (JP) or village head to certify late birth registrations for the purpose of applying for an identity card is' illegal.
He said such use is against the Birth and Death Ordinance 1953, Section 22(2) of the Federal Laws.
The section concerned shows that registration made after 42 days of the birth of a child is considered late registration and must be certified by a First Class Civil Magistrate's Court.
As such, he urged the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive study and carry out an investigation on those who had acquired the identity cards by using a statutory declaration letter from the JP or village head.
"A study or investigation is carried out because many had obtained the identity cards using such statutory declaration letter and many more will be using the same document to apply for the IC," he said.
Eric who said this in Parliament, reckoned that the people used the services of the Mobile Court to have the certification for their late birth registrations.
"Both the print and electronic media should also play their role by disseminating the schedule for the Mobile Court visits to the villages in the rural areas," Eric added.