Kuala lumpur: Seven siblings received their long-awaited identity cards today at their family home in Bandar Sungai Buaya here. They are Ahmad Shahmil Ismail, 30; Muhammad Fazril, 29; Nur Hakimah, 26; Nur Hakikah, 24; Nur Laila, 22; Nur Shakila, 19; and Zakaria, 17.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the siblings' applications for late registration of their birth certificates were approved on Dec 8, 2025, and their identity cards were subsequently approved on Dec 23. National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias highlighted that the delay was caused by their parents' unregistered marriage, which had affected the issuance of identity documents for their children.
The situation was further complicated by the death of the siblings' father in 2023, necessitating the collection of DNA samples from close relatives, such as an uncle, to establish parentage. Once the application details were received, the department required the family to attend the NRD office for assessment through the Birth and Death Division and further investigations to confirm the children's relationship with their parents.
Investigations, including DNA tests, confirmed the family ties. The parents' marriage was re-registered and ratified by the court, a crucial step before birth certificates could be issued with citizenship status. Once all requirements were met, the birth certificates were issued, followed by the identity cards.
Badrul Hisham urged all Malaysian citizens to ensure their marriages are registered in accordance with the law. He emphasized that registration is not only an administrative requirement but also provides essential protection for children's rights in the future. He also noted that every marriage and birth must be registered, whether involving citizens or non-citizens, and foreign nationals in Malaysia must ensure their children's births are registered to avoid future issues due to lack of official identity documents.
He added that, based on NRD data last year, 4,497 applications for late registration of identity cards were received, while 9,528 applications involved late birth registrations. This year, the department plans to increase efforts and conduct more field programs to detect and resolve cases involving identity documents.