History

  • 1807 – The Charter of Justice 1807 (First Charter) established English Law, which was known as Lex Loci (laws of the land), in Penang.

     

  • 26.11.1826 – The Charter of Justice 1826 (Second Charter) established English Law, which was known Lex Loci (law of the land), in Singapore and Malacca although the law did not per se replaced customary law. As a result, cases under local law and customs were transferred to English law.

     

  • 1867 – The Straits Settlements was separated from the Government in India (by government operation under the Straits Settlements Act 1866) under legislative power.

     

  • 4.2.1867 – In line with the Letter of Conferment, legislative power in the colonies was approved by the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements.

     

  • 1874 - 1899 – The Federated Malay States (Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang) became British protectorates.

     

  • 13.7.1889 – Merged into the Federation of Malaya.

     

  • 1895 – Before 1895, the Federation of Malaya operated separately, until laws were drafted so that separate laws were made for the registration of birth, death, burial, marriage and divorce. In 1895, it operated under the Federal Council.

     

  • Birth and death records that had been recorded almost 150 years ago by the National Registration Department are still preserved until today.

     

  • In 1948, the first identity card was issued during the emergency (Registration Areas). The 1948 Regulations were expanded through the Emergency Ordinance 1948.

     

  •  The Identity card for the Federation of Malaya was issued on 2 August 1960. Initially, birth, death, adoption, citizenship and marriages matters were placed under state governments until federal laws were drafted to serve the public with regard to registration matters. The National Registration Department was established to administer the acts for Parliament until today.

    The process of laminating old identity cards (1961) People queuing to change paper identity card to plastic identity card (1961) Visit by DYMM Seri Paduka Yang Di-Pertuan Agong III to NRD Headquarters (1961)
    The first Certificate of Citizenship (1964) Y.T.M. Tunku Abdul Rahman having his thumb print taken for an identity card application (1961) The first plastic identity card with the number 0000001 owned by Y.T.M. Tunku Abdul Rahman