Malaysia Civil Registration

Asia Malaysia

Research use: Information can be used to compile pedigrees and family groups and to perform temple ordinances. Identifies parents, children and spouses and dates and places of vital events. Other relatives are often identified.

Record type: Births, marriages, deaths, divorces.

Time period: 1859-present. In 1961 registration became compulsory for all except Muslims, who were governed by the Muslim Ordinance of 1957. Contents: Births:  Child’s name, birth date and place; parents’ names, residence, and occupation; witnesses’ ages, relationships, residences. Marriages: Bride and groom names, ages, residences, occupations, marriage date and place; sometimes ages and/or birth dates and places; parents' names;  residences, occupations; witnesses and officer who performed ceremony; former spouses. Death registers: Name of deceased, age, death date and place, occupation, name of surviving spouse, informant’s name and residence, cause of death, sometimes birth date and place, parents’ names, children’s names.

Location: National Archives and local civil registry offices.

Population coverage: Before 1980, 10%; after 1980, 80%.

Reliability: Excellent.