No need for certified copies

The Star
14/4/2012

SEREMBAN: Students applying for government scholarships will no longer have to go through the hassle of certifying copies of their academic results or other co-curriculur activities testimonials from now on.

Similarly, Malaysians, who submit various applications when doing transactions with the Government will also no longer be required to attach supporting documents certified by a commissioner of oaths or other agencies if there is no legal provision for it.

In yet another directive to enhance the Government's delivery system, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said these requirements needed to be done away with as they did not “portray” the modernisation the civil service was going through.

“These requirements were purely administrative in nature and did not in any way add value to government requirements.

“Even if these supporting documents have been certified, we would still need to verify these with the originals eventually,” he said in a circular.

Mohd Sidek said such requirements needed to be abolished as there were no legal provisions requiring people to submit such certified copies of documents,

“These requirements are just burdensome and that is why we need to put a stop to it,” he said.

Previously, students, for example, had to get copies of their academic certificates verified and stamped either by senior government officers, commissioner for oaths, MPs, assemblymen or village headmen.

They were required to have all academic and personal documents verified even when applying for free textbooks or for entry into Form Four or Lower Six in other schools.

Those applying for transfers to schools in other states, for places in institutions of higher learning or government jobs were also required to submit certified supporting documents with their applications.

Citing another example, Mohd Sidek said students who wished to get a copy of their Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia certificate from the Malaysian Examination Council are now required to submit a certified copy of their identity card and other academic certificates.

“Since the required information is already included in the application form, there is no need for the applicant to attach certified copies of other documents.

“There is no legal requirement for this,” he said.

Mohd Sidek said as such, all ministries and state government departments and agencies need to immediately review their work processes and simplify procedures for the people.

He said they should among others, check if there were legal requirements for applicants to submit certified documents with their applications.

“If there are none, then the public should be told accordingly so that they will not be made to go through the trouble,” he said.

Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman said the directive was timely as the requirement was time-consuming and costly.