GUA MUSANG, Oct 12 — Old birth certificates, including handwritten documents issued in paper format, remain valid and do not need to be replaced, said National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias.

He said those who wished to obtain a birth certificate in the new format could apply for an extract at any NRD office for RM5, with the process taking less than five minutes.

“Birth certificates are never invalid, whether they are from the older or newer generation,” he told reporters after the Registration Literacy Programme held in conjunction with the Kelantan-level 78th National Registration Day celebration at Pos Balar here today.

Badrul Hisham said birth documentation was essential to establish a legally recognised identity and ensure individuals could access their rights and services as Malaysians.

He said the NRD continued to reach out to communities, including the Orang Asli in rural areas, to ensure they had access to registration and documentation services.

Asked about the number of Orang Asli who had yet to obtain a MyKad or birth certificate, he said the department did not have exact figures, as it could only identify those who came forward to seek its services.

He said awareness efforts on the importance of personal documentation needed to continue through outreach programmes and cooperation with relevant agencies to ensure no one was left out of the national registration system. — Bernama