Fairer than mother, so no MyKad for daughter

The Perak National Registration Department has told both mother and daughter to undergo a DNA test to prove their kinship.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: A 12-year-old girl and her mother in Perak was told by the National Registration Department (NRD) to undergo a DNA test before getting her a MyKad.

The reason; she looked fairer than her mother.

The mother, V Kamala, 60, told Tamil daily Tamil Nesan that the Perak NRD asked her to undergo a maternity test to prove that she is the biological mother of S Mahalachemi, due to the difference in skin complexion.

“I was shocked when the so called officer asked(me) to do maternity test just because we have different skin colour,” she said.

However, Kamala refused to comply on the matter and questioned NRD on the need for the test when they have all the documents required to apply for a MyKad.

She added that the NRD is deliberately delaying the application for unknown reasons.

“Why would they require us to do a DNA test for a MyKad when my daughter has a valid birth certificate?” Kamala asked.

On the wide age gap between her and Mahalachemi, Kamala said that she gave birth to Mahalachemi when she was 47 years old.

Contacted later, Buntong assemblyman A Sivasubramaniam claimed he witnessed how NRD treated Kamala.

“I was the one who brought the family to the NRD department after the latter seized the daughter’s birth certificate in their previous visit.

“However, we managed to get a new birth certificate for Mahalachemi. During the second visit, the deputy director, known as Premah, told the family to undergo a DNA test before applying for MyKad,” he added.

Sivasubramaniam urged the NRD to issue the MyKad immediately as Mahalachemi would be attending secondary school next year.

NRD: No such thing

Meanwhile, NRD public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor dismissed Kamala’s accusation, saying NRD never told the latter undergo a DNA test.

“NRD has no need for such a test since Kamala is Mahalachume’s biological mother (according to birth certificate),” she told FMT.

She added that Perak NRD is prepared to give Mahalechume her MyKad as her mother has produced all the necessary documents.

On related matter, Malacca PKR vice chairman G Rajendran urged NRD to conduct a proper investigation on matter.

“Who told Kamala mother to undergo maternity test? This needs to be investigated,” he said, referring to the officer known as Premah, who is a deputy director of NRD at the Ipoh branch.