KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14- The MyDaftar campaign, which was launched in Feb 2011 to resolve the Indian community’s perennial problem of documentation in this country, has received a special recognition from the United Nations (UN).
The Special Implementation Taskforce on the Indian Community (SITF) chief coordinator Datuk N.Sivasubramaniam said the UN recognised the campaign as the Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s sincere move towards providing proper
documentation for those without one.
“The MyDaftar campaign has received global attention as no other country has done it,” he told Bernama recently.
Following which, Sivasubramaniam was invited to present a paper on the campaign and its success at a workshop on civil and birth registration organised by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Bangkok, Dec 10 last year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched the nationwide MyDaftar campaign in Feb 2011 to assist those among the Indian community who did not have a valid birth certificate, identity card or citizenship.
In the first phase of the campaign from Feb 19 to 26, the MyDaftar campaign received 9,529 applications. Of which 5,593 were approved within a year, with 4,023 being for citizenships.
Sivasubramaniam said the MyDaftar campaign would kick-off its second phase nationwide from February 19 till March 3, aimed at registering every Malaysian without proper documentation, in order to obtain one.
“This is not just for pro-BN people. Lets leave our political differences aside. If you have a problem, come forward and register yourself,” he said, adding that details of the upcoming campaign would be announced soon.
On a separate development, Sivasubramaniam urged Malaysians to comply with the legal process of adopting children through the Welfare Department.
“Malaysians are a caring lot and often seen adopting kids. But not always in a legal manner. Illegal adoptions may be viewed as human trafficking,” he said.
“Furthermore, these children are issued with only a green identification card,” he said.
According to the National Registration Department’s official website, holders of the green identity card are not entitled to most benefits like healthcare and cannot contribute to the Employees Provident Fund or SOCSO (social security organisation).
BERNAMA
