Cher Wei can’t name Teoh as father of baby

(NST) PUTRAJAYA: Soh Cher Wei may not be able to register Teoh Beng Hock as the father of her child.

 

National Registration Department public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor said the marriage certificate of the child's parents must be forwarded to register a child.

In the case of a child born out of wedlock, the father has to be physically present before the registrar to have his name included in the document.

Jainisah pointed out that it was not possible for the department to register Teoh's name as the child's father as there was no provision for such a process.

"In this case, when the child is born, the baby's birth certificate will only carry the mother's details.

"The child will also carry the mother's surname," Jainisah told the New Straits Times yesterday, adding that any changes to the existing procedures of registering a child would set a precedent.

Soh, 28, had said she would go ahead to legalise Teoh as the father of her unborn child.

She had also said she would give her child the Teoh family name, although she was unsure how to go about it as the marriage plans were shattered following his death.

Soh, a teacher, also said that she would discuss solemnising her marriage according to traditional Chinese rites with Teoh's family after the funeral.

The status of the child was among the main concerns raised by Teoh's family as the couple had yet to register their marriage.