Pos Balar:The National Registration Department (JPN) in Malaysia is facing challenges in identifying Orang Asli and indigenous communities who remain unregistered in the national system due to a lack of accurate data on individuals without identification documents.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, JPN Director-General Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias explained that the department can only identify these individuals when they seek JPN services, making it difficult to ascertain the number of those lacking identity cards or birth certificates. This issue affects not only the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia but also indigenous communities in Sabah and Sarawak.

During the Registration Literacy Programme, part of the state-level 78th National Registration Day celebrations in Pos Balar, Badrul Hisham reported that JPN had received applications from more than 30 individuals aged 12 seeking their first identity cards. He emphasized JPN's commitment to conducting outreach programs to engage rural communities, aiming to provide necessary documentation services.

The efforts include facilitating first-time identity card applications, replacements, and managing birth and death certificate matters. Badrul Hisham noted that these continuous efforts are crucial for ensuring access to documentation services and addressing registration neglect among rural communities.

More than 30 Orang Asli children aged 12 applied for their identity cards for the first time through the outreach program. Badrul Hisham highlighted that the response to the JPN mobile van services has been very encouraging, with the local community utilizing the opportunity for identity card and birth certificate replacements.

He anticipates an increase in first-time MyKad applications for 12-year-old children as many residents were still queuing for services. The Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) program exemplifies JPN's dedication to facilitating access to identity documents in rural areas.

Additionally, Badrul Hisham noted that 263,608 permanent resident card (MyPR) holders, known as the "red MyKad," have been recorded nationwide. This cumulative figure includes an average issuance of 10,000 to 12,000 new MyPR cards annually over the past five years.