A special government taskforce, aimed at providing assistance with documentation issues plaguing the Indian community, has uncovered at least ten cases involving the children of Muslim-Hindu couples.
“There have been 10 to 20 of such cases identified by the taskforce in the one year since we started work,” said taskforce coordinator S Siva.
Of the cases identified, two have formally lodged their complaints to the National Registration Department for resolution and have received case numbers.
Of them, one involves a 30-year-old woman, raised as a Hindu but recently barred from marrying another Hindu when she was told by the authorities that she is Muslim.
She claims to have had no knowledge that the NRD has registered her as a Muslim following her mother's religion at birth.
Fifteen-year-old M Saraswasthy* faces similar problems.
Born of a Muslim mother and a Hindu father, she had her MyKad application rejected because she chose the Hindu identity 'Saraswathy a/p Muniandy'.
NRD officers are insisting on the Muslim name Saraswathy binti Kamal Shah - following the name religious officials had forced onto her father even though he had never converted and is recognised by the NRD as a Hindu.
While Muniandy* (left) has been persistent with the NRD in pushing for a MyKad for his daughter, he is still wary of going public with his predicament for fear of persecution.
The family, who have been living as Hindus for the past 17 years, has had to move at least five times in as many years following a religious department raid and threats from parang-wielding vigilantes who had discovered their situation.
'Nothing to fear'
Subramaniam however asserts that those who bring their problems to the taskforce, that is chaired by Human Resources Minister S Subramaniam and that works closely with the NRD and the Home Ministry, have nothing to fear.
“They won't be prosecuted, unless of course they have blatantly broken the law, like killing or robbing someone.
“We handle (these problems) on a case-by-case basis, and we will consult legal authorities, experts and religious bodies from both religions involved. At the end of the day, people need to be documented,” said Siva.
Malaysiakini understands that Muniandy will be in touch with the taskforce to find a solution for his children's documentation problems.
Official records show that there are 32,000 Indians with birth certificates but without MyKads.
The figure for those without even the birth certificate is expected to be staggering.
* Names have been changed to protect privacy.
“There have been 10 to 20 of such cases identified by the taskforce in the one year since we started work,” said taskforce coordinator S Siva.
Of the cases identified, two have formally lodged their complaints to the National Registration Department for resolution and have received case numbers.
Of them, one involves a 30-year-old woman, raised as a Hindu but recently barred from marrying another Hindu when she was told by the authorities that she is Muslim.
She claims to have had no knowledge that the NRD has registered her as a Muslim following her mother's religion at birth. Fifteen-year-old M Saraswasthy* faces similar problems.
Born of a Muslim mother and a Hindu father, she had her MyKad application rejected because she chose the Hindu identity 'Saraswathy a/p Muniandy'.
NRD officers are insisting on the Muslim name Saraswathy binti Kamal Shah - following the name religious officials had forced onto her father even though he had never converted and is recognised by the NRD as a Hindu.
While Muniandy* (left) has been persistent with the NRD in pushing for a MyKad for his daughter, he is still wary of going public with his predicament for fear of persecution.
The family, who have been living as Hindus for the past 17 years, has had to move at least five times in as many years following a religious department raid and threats from parang-wielding vigilantes who had discovered their situation.
'Nothing to fear'
Subramaniam however asserts that those who bring their problems to the taskforce, that is chaired by Human Resources Minister S Subramaniam and that works closely with the NRD and the Home Ministry, have nothing to fear.
“They won't be prosecuted, unless of course they have blatantly broken the law, like killing or robbing someone.“We handle (these problems) on a case-by-case basis, and we will consult legal authorities, experts and religious bodies from both religions involved. At the end of the day, people need to be documented,” said Siva.
Malaysiakini understands that Muniandy will be in touch with the taskforce to find a solution for his children's documentation problems.
Official records show that there are 32,000 Indians with birth certificates but without MyKads.
The figure for those without even the birth certificate is expected to be staggering.
* Names have been changed to protect privacy. 
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