Back to square one

1. Last Monday, 14 October 2019, I once again presented myself at the reception counter of the registration office. My business was, of course, to inquire about the status of my request for the correction of my surname which was spelt ‘Marikan’ in my birth certificate.

2. I have requested for it to be replaced with ‘Merican,’ the usual spelling used by members of the Noordin family of which I am part of. Mohamad Merican Noordin, the patriarch of the family, was my great-grandfather.

3. Having received my queue ticket, I settled back beside my wife who accompanied me to the office and waited my turn. Ever since I last came here to make the request on July 1, I hadn’t heard from them, but then I supposed no news was good news.

4. When my turn came, I soon learned that I had waited three and a half months for nothing. Regarding the status of my request, the clerk who attended to me explained that I have yet to make a formal application. It’s back to square one!

5. She further explained that the submission of duplicates of my father’s death certificate and my birth certificate to the National Registration Department headquarters in Putrajaya was only for verification purposes.

6. Thinking back to that last visit, I realise now that I was somewhat in a “disorientated” state then. My time with the clerk was very brief indeed so much so that it led to “miscommunication.” It was quite silly of me at that time not to ask the clerk for a thorough explanation about the procedures involved pertaining to my request. And apparently, the clerk might have assumed that I was already familiar with the procedures.

7. To make a formal application for the correction of my surname, I was given a set of forms to fill in, including a statutory declaration form to be certified by a commissioner for oaths. Besides that, I have to make duplicates of relevant documents in order to support my application for replacing a vowel and a consonant in my surname.

8. The clerk was tactful in pointing out that it would be taxing at my age to proceed with my intention. I told her, I hope to accomplish what I set out to do, God willing!