KUCHING: The National Registration Department (JPN) has replied to New Sarawak Tribune’s September 28 article under the headline “Penan Christian wrongly registered as a Muslim”.
It clarifies that in March, 2017, Solan Melai submitted late application for her children’s birth certificates at the JPN office in Marudi. The application is still under process because letters of confirmation are required from other agencies.
The department says that in the case of Tebuk Bajang, the name in the identity card and that in the birth certificate are the same. She had only submitted an application for an amendment to the birth certificate and the application was completed by the department. However, she had failed to go to the JPN Marudi office to collect the new birth certificate.
In the case of Pusa Luding, a replacement of identity card was made with the Miri Mobile Unit (UKB) on December 5, 2013. An application was made to change the collection centre from JPN Miri to JPN Marudi. The applicant was informed in writing to collect the identity card on January 28, 2015 and also through the Penghulu in his area, John Bong, but the card was not claimed by him. On December 7, 2016, the card was disposed off and categorised as an unclaimed card for exceeding the 36-month period.
