Why are we not recognised under Baba ethnicity in birth certificates? asks association
Baba Nyonya Peranakan Association president Datuk Ronald Gan
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Its president Datuk Ronald Gan said the Baba ethnicity status was recognised in birth certificates during the 1940s but was omitted after that.
"Before independence, the Baba ethnicity was recognised and existed in the ethnic group options in the national registration system but it is now missing from the birth certificate.
"I do not know why it was not maintained, as if the Baba Nyonya community has no status at all in this country," he said when met during the Chinese New Year celebration at his residence at Bukit Nibong, Ayer Molek here on Monday.
He explained that Bumiputera also had cases of sub-ethnic categories like Melayu-Minangkabau as well as Cina Hokkien, Cina Hailam, India Malayalam and more.
He hoped the unity government would recognise by providing options for sub-ethnic or to recognise Baba Nyonya as an identity in NRD.
Additionally, he said their hope was not to ask for special rights but a simple recognition and for the National Statistics Department to update their data more accurately.
"There are six large Peranakan or Baba Nyonya ethnic associations in Kelantan, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu with approximate total of 9,000 members," he added.
