224 non-citizens born in Sarawak first eight months of 2026

A total of 224 people born in Sarawak have been registered as non-citizens from Jan to Aug, this year.

Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah (GPS-Dalat) said the main reasons for children being registered as non-citizens included parents’ marriages not being registered or recognised under Malaysian law, mothers lacking valid identification documents, and children who were found or abandoned.

“Measures to address the issue include awareness campaigns to encourage legal marriage registration and assistance for mothers born in Sarawak who do not have identification documents to obtain the necessary papers,” she explained.

The Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development was responding to Johnical Rayong (GPS-Engkilili) during question and answer on Wednesday (Oct 14).

Non-citizen mothers are also encouraged to maintain valid travel documents and ensure their children’s birth documentation was properly managed.

“Registration of found or abandoned children was coordinated with relevant authorities, including JPN (National Registration Department), to determine their status under the law.

“All births in Sarawak must be registered regardless of the parents’ citizenship status, but being born in Malaysia does not automatically confer Malaysian citizenship. A child’s citizenship status depends on the parents’ citizenship at the time of birth and whether their marriage has been legally registered,” she added.

She explained that children with at least one Malaysian biological parent are eligible to attend government or government-aided schools, subject to the relevant laws and Ministry of Education procedures.

“The Malaysian parent’s details must be stated on the child’s birth certificate for school admission,” she said.

Fatimah stressed that citizenship status and access to education were separate matters, adding that children who had not obtained Malaysian citizenship could still access education.