He said they comprised of nurses, midwives, village headmen (penghulu), Tuai Kampongs, "Pemanca"  and private clinic doctors.

Tiong said this after receiving a reply on his (luesti.on by Datuk Seri Abu Zahar Isnin, Parliamentary Secretary to  the Home Ministry at the Parliament session yesterday.

In his question at the Parliament, he had asked lhe Home Minister to explain whether the Government could consider empowering the Tuai Rumahs, Temenggong, police and nwa.'[ clinic in the rural areas of Bintulu to register birth certificates and identity cards.

There are far too many poor people including the elderly who could not afford to do so due to fmancial prol)lemE@, apart from facing difficulty of getting transportation to town.

"These Deputy Registrars, were also required to conduct special visits arranged by. the National Registration Department to the rural areas in the Sarawak to assist in solviing the prevailing problems of registering newboms and identity cards," he said.

He also said the Chapter 10 in the Registrati.on ef Births and Deaths Ordinance 1951 of Sarawak, had clearly provided every village headmen, Tuai Rumahs as well as Clilnes(-. community heachnen with powers to record and report births of riewboms and deaths which occurred in their respective areas.

Tiong said the Home Ministry was of the op.@ion that the 334 Deputy Registrars who have been appointed to the posts were sufficient in parallel with their jurisdiction and fimctions.