SIBU: In an exciting development, 60 previously stateless Sarawakians are set to receive their Malaysian citizenship approval letters soon, according to Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. The state Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister shared on Tuesday (July 11) that 40 individuals will be presented with their letters on July 24. She further stated, “40 of them will receive it from Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia on July 24 while the other 20 will get theirs in separate ceremonies.” Fatimah Abdullah made this announcement after handing out temporary identification documents (TID) to six stateless children under 21 years old. Notably, four of the recipients are from Sarikei Division and two from Sibu Division.
Speaking about the TID, Fatimah highlighted that as of June 30 this year, out of the 634 applications received, 189 were approved. These TIDs, which are valid for two years, grant stateless children access to education and healthcare. She further explained that only stateless individuals under the age of 21, who have applied for Malaysian citizenship under Section 15A of the Federal Constitution, are eligible to apply for the document.
Out of the approved applications, 18 individuals have already received their Malaysian citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution. Moreover, 289 applicants have met the required criteria, while the remaining 345 applications did not. Fatimah emphasized, “Most of the applications that did not get approved are those children who did not have a birth certificate.” In light of this, she advised parents to apply for a birth certificate for their children, regardless of their age, as it will expedite the TID application process.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
