{
  "id": 14092502,
  "title": "Unregistered Orang Asli in Malaysia: Why the NRD struggles to find accurate numbers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/unregistered-orang-asli-in-malaysia-why-the-nrd-struggles-to-find",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T02:02:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/13/unregistered-orang-asli-in-malaysia-why-the-nrd-struggles-to-find-accurate-numbers/238888"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Gua Musang, on October 13, the National Registration Department (NRD) director-general, Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias, highlighted the challenge of accurately determining the number of unregistered individuals, particularly Orang Asli and indigenous communities, who lack identification documents. The NRD can only identify these individuals when they seek services, making it difficult to establish the actual number of unregistered persons. These communities are present not only in Peninsular Malaysia but also in Sabah and Sarawak. At a press conference following the Registration Literacy Programme, Badrul Hisham revealed that the department has received applications from over 30 individuals aged 12, who are applying for their identity cards for the first time. The NRD is dedicated to implementing outreach programs to engage with rural communities, offering services such as first-time identity card applications, replacements, and birth and death certificate-related matters. Badrul Hisham emphasized the importance of continuous efforts to ensure access to documentation services for rural communities and address registration neglect. During the programme, more than 30 Orang Asli children aged 12 applied for their identity cards through the JPN outreach program. Badrul Hisham noted that the response to the documentation services provided via the NRD mobile van has been positive, with many residents utilizing the opportunity to obtain replacement services for their identity cards and birth certificates. The Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (Mekar) program is an integral part of the NRD's commitment to reach out to rural communities and facilitate their access to identity documents, including first-time MyKad applications and replacement services for birth and death certificates.",
  "summary": "GUA MUSANG, Oct 13 — The absence of accurate numbers of individuals without identification documents poses a chall...",
  "key_points": [
    "NRD struggles to determine exact count of unregistered Orang Asli in Malaysia.",
    "Over 30 Orang Asli children applied for identity cards via outreach program.",
    "NRD focuses on rural outreach to improve documentation access."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Relying on reactive service requests rather than proactive census data prevents the government from establishing a reliable baseline for the indigenous populations currently lacking essential identification documents.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Unregistered Orang Asli in Malaysia: Why the NRD struggles to find accurate numbers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/unregistered-orang-asli-in-malaysia-why-the-nrd-struggles-to-find-14094743",
        "published": "2026-10-13T02:02:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}