The notion of selling a baby’s identity sounds like something out of a crime thriller, yet that is precisely what has been taking place in Malaysia, where women have lent their names to undocumented babies in exchange for cash.
The National Registration Department (JPN) has revealed the disturbing details of an elaborate scam, exposed under Ops Tumpang 2.0—a joint operation with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s Intelligence Division.
At the heart of this scheme are women who submitted fraudulent birth registration applications, claiming to be single mothers, despite having no biological connection to the babies.
In return, they were paid between RM200 and RM3,000 for each baby registered under their name, and in some cases, received regular payments for repeated involvement.
“Investigations found that these women were listed as the mothers in the babies' birth certificates, motivated by the cash offered by agents or third parties, including syndicates,” said JPN director-general Badrul Hisham Alias.
Once registered, the forged birth certificates were passed to agents, who then sold them on the black-market—effectively offering Malaysian citizenship to babies who would otherwise be undocumented, often born to foreign nationals or in illegal circumstances.
The scam does not stop with women. Badrul Hisham also disclosed that men were similarly implicated, registering themselves as the fathers of babies sourced by syndicates or third parties.
“This was done to obtain birth certificates that granted the babies Malaysian citizenship status, allowing the children to later apply for MyKad and access public services such as healthcare and education,” he explained.
In bypassing legal channels like formal adoption or citizenship applications, these individuals have enabled a black-market industry that traffics not just in identities, but in the rights and futures of children.
The operation uncovered an organised network of agents who not only recruited people to pose as parents but also arranged forged documents, including fake medical records and birth confirmation letters. According to JPN, syndicates charged substantial fees to adoptive families or individuals seeking children complete with full identity documentation.
The case is now being investigated under Section 36(1)(b) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Act 299). Badrul Hisham was firm in stating that JPN has never authorised any agents to handle matters related to birth certificates or identity cards.
“JPN is committed to combating birth certificate syndicates and will continue enforcement operations to curb irregular registration practices,” he said.
He also urged families or individuals involved in irregular registrations to come forward to any JPN office. The department, he assured, is ready to assist in securing legal documentation for children, in accordance with Malaysian law.
This revelation should provoke more than legal scrutiny—it demands a broader conversation about how desperation, corruption and inadequate safeguards have converged to turn citizenship into a commodity. - April 17, 2025
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