Akta Pendaftaran Kelahiran dan Kematian 1957
Applies to: Federal Act — see s 1 (Short title and application) · Official text ↗
- Applies to Peninsular Malaysia only (s 1(2))
- Defines key terms like 'Certificate of Birth', 'stillbirth', and 'public institution' (s 2)
- Requires birth information to be given within sixty days (s 8)
- Requires death information to be given within seven days (s 19(2))
- Mandates late registration authority from the Registrar-General (ss 12, 21)
- Allows correction of clerical and factual errors in registers (s 27)
- Sets penalties for failure to register or providing false information (ss 35, 36)
What this law is
The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Akta Pendaftaran Kelahiran dan Kematian 1957) is numbered Act 299 in the Laws of Malaysia. Where it applies is set out in section 1 (Short title and application).
Its long title, as printed in the official text: An Act relating to the registration of births and deaths.
Read every section, the amendment history and the official copy on our law library page for this Act.
How the Act is arranged
- Part I — Preliminary (ss 1–6)
- Part II — Registration of births (ss 7–17)
- Part III — Registration of deaths (ss 18–25)
- Part IV — General (ss 26–42)
Part titles are from the official arrangement of sections.
Time limits in this Act
| What | Limit | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Give information concerning a birth to the Registrar | sixty days from the date of the birth | s 8 |
| Give information concerning a death to the Registrar | seven days from the time of the death | s 19(2) |
Offences and penalties
| Offence | Penalty (as written in the Act) | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to give information, refusal to answer questions, or failure to comply with Registrar requirements | fine not exceeding twenty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both | s 35 |
| Making false statements, false entries, destroying entries, or forging certificates | fine not exceeding twenty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both | s 36(1) |
Laws cited on this page
| Act 299 | Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 Akta Pendaftaran Kelahiran dan Kematian 1957 | PDF · PDF (BM) · Official ↗ |
Each law links to our mirror page: a copy of the official text captured on a known date, its version history, and the official source. Law library →
Key sections
| Provision | What it says, in plain words |
|---|---|
| s 1 | The Act applies only to Peninsular Malaysia. |
| s 2 | Defines terms such as 'stillbirth' (child after 28 weeks with no signs of life) and 'public institution' (including hospitals and prisons). |
| s 8 | Qualified informants must give birth information to the Registrar within sixty days of the birth. |
| s 12 | Births not registered within sixty days require written authority from the Registrar-General, except for stillbirths. |
| s 14 | The Registrar must give a Certificate of Birth to the informant at the time of registration. |
| s 19 | Qualified persons must give death information to the Registrar within seven days of the death. |
| s 21 | Deaths not registered within seven days require written authority from the Registrar-General. |
| s 25 | The Registrar must give a Certificate of Death to the person providing information upon registering the death. |
| s 27 | Clerical errors can be corrected by the Superintendent-Registrar, while errors of fact require the Registrar-General and a statutory declaration. |
| s 32 | Anyone can apply for certificates of birth, death, or presumed death from the Superintendent-Registrar upon payment of fees. |
| s 33 | Registered entries and certificates serve as evidence of birth, death, or presumed death without further proof. |
| s 35 | Failing to give required information or refusing to answer questions is an offence. |
Worked examples
Facts. Ahmad's child was born in Kuala Lumpur, but he did not register the birth until 90 days later.
The law. Registration after sixty days requires written authority from the Registrar-General (s 12(1)).
Outcome. Ahmad must obtain the Registrar-General's written authority before the birth can be registered (s 12(1)).
Facts. Ravi notices that his son's name is misspelt in the birth register.
The law. Any clerical error discovered in a register may be corrected by the Superintendent-Registrar, in the manner the Registrar-General directs (s 27(2)). An error of fact or substance is corrected by the Registrar-General on payment of the prescribed fee and production of a statutory declaration by two qualified informants, or failing them two credible persons (s 27(3)).
Outcome. If it is a clerical error, the Superintendent-Registrar may correct it (s 27(2)); if it is an error of fact, Ravi needs the statutory declaration route (s 27(3)).
Facts. Mr Lim's mother dies at home in Ipoh; he was with her during her last illness.
The law. A relative present at the death or in attendance during the last illness is the first person with the duty to give the Registrar the particulars of the death, before seven days from the death, and to sign the register (s 19(1)(a), (2)(a)). Information given by any one qualified informant discharges the others (s 19(2), proviso (i)). After seven days the death can be registered only with the Registrar-General's written authority (s 21(1)).
Outcome. Mr Lim should register the death within seven days, and the Registrar gives him a Certificate of Death (s 25).
Examples are simplified illustrations with invented names; real cases turn on their own facts.
Questions & answers
Where does this law apply?
The Act applies to Peninsular Malaysia only (s 1(2)), which includes the Federal Territory (s 2).
How long do I have to register a birth?
You must give information to the Registrar within sixty days from the date of the birth (s 8). If you miss this deadline, you need written authority from the Registrar-General (s 12(1)).
Who must report a death?
Qualified informants include relatives present at the death, the occupier of the house, or anyone who found the body (s 19(1)). They must report it within seven days of the death (s 19(2)).
Can I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Yes, any person may apply to the Superintendent-Registrar for a Certificate of Birth on the prescribed form and pay the prescribed fees (s 32(1)).
What happens if I make a mistake on the registration form?
Clerical errors can be corrected by the Superintendent-Registrar (s 27(2)). Errors of fact require the Registrar-General's approval and a statutory declaration (s 27(3)).
Is a registered birth certificate valid as proof?
Yes, an entry in the register or a Certificate of Birth is received as evidence of the birth without further proof, provided it is duly certified (s 33(1)).
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Sources
Related
Family law: marriage, divorce, maintenance and custodyWills, intestacy and probate (non-Muslim estates)How Malaysian law works