19 Marudi Penans still without birth certificate, IC

MARUDI: A total of 19 Penans in Marudi are yet to have birth certificate and MyKad (IC). Volunteer in-charge of Penan Affairs in Marudi District Office, Catherine Lajo said, the 19 Penans are from Long Beku, Baram and are in Marudi to earn a living.

“The details of these 19 Penans are in my record. In fact, more Penans from Long Beku not in my record have neither birth certificate nor MyKad,” she told The New Sarawak Tribune here yesterday. Based on her experience in handling Penan affairs since 1993, Catherine added, the main poser faced by Penans pertaining to the National Registration Department (NRD) is that NRD usually states their tribe as Penan @ Punan at their birth certificate.

“In that case, there has been confusion about the term Penan and Punan. We are from two different tribal groups. “When it comes to this matter, the Penan involved will face difficulty in making their MyKad application or registration,” she said. Catherine pointed out that, Penan ethinic group is divided into two groups namely Penan Silat and Penan Selungo. “Penan Silat is normally originating from the lower Baram area while Penan Selungo group resides in the upper area of the region,” she said and adding that Punan ethnic group is from Suai area.

Meanwhile, she urged state NRD to look into the matter to avoid the same problem occurring in future. Catherine also hoped the NRD mobile unit to come to Long Beku to assist those people who are yet to have their identification documents. “It is good that if the NRD mobile unit could possibly come down to Long Beku to assist those people. “It’s hard for them to come down to NRD Marudi or Miri because it involves huge expenses, “ she said.