Avoid late birth registration, Saifuddin urges parents

He said although late birth registration numbers are declining, the total recorded annually remained significant.

“A total of 13,474 late birth registrations were recorded in 2023, followed by 12,363 in 2024 and 10,537 in 2025. As of March 31 this year, 1,970 cases have been recorded,” Bernama reported him as saying at Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih in Kuala Lumpur.

Saifuddin said an average of 1,000 births each month are not registered within the legally prescribed period.

“We strongly urge parents to understand that their children may face difficulties in the future, particularly when accessing government assistance that requires a MyKad,” he said.

He said birth registration must be completed within 60 days in Peninsular Malaysia, while the period is 40 days for Sabah and Sarawak.

Saifuddin said late registrations should be avoidable as the national registration department operates 212 offices nationwide and conducts year-round outreach programmes, including in rural areas, to facilitate registration.

“Factors contributing to undocumented children include unregistered marriages and social issues, which leave children without proper documentation,” he said.