Adopted child now has a MyKad, thanks to MCA

KLANG: When Ng Keng Chai, 68, and Lim Hong Eng, 63, adopted a baby 15 years ago, they managed to register their names as the boy’s biological parents in his birth certificate.

But when the boy turned 12, it became an obstacle for them to apply for his MyKad.

“The National Registration Department (NRD) officer told them it was impossible for Lim to have given birth to the child,” said Kapar MCA division chief Datuk Song Kee Chai.

This was because Lim was already 48 years old when Kai Xuan was born.

What followed were numerous unsuccessful visits to the NRD before Song and Klang MCA Public Complaints and Services deputy chief Datuk Tan Bok Koon intervened.

“We approached MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong for help and I also went to the Prime Minister’s Department to resolve the matter,” said Song.

Their efforts paid off and Ng received a letter from the NRD on Nov 22, asking him to obtain a MyKad for the boy.

The Ng family, from Meru near here, was elated and thanked the MCA leaders and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for helping Kai Xuan.

“Thank you for all the help rendered.

“My son is now a Malaysian citizen,” said Ng.

Kai Xuan, who is attending a Chinese independent high school here, said he was not able to do many things a regular Malaysian could because of his predicament.

“I could not attend government school, enjoy government healthcare benefits or open a bank account because I did not have a MyKad,” Kai Xuan told reporters.

Kai Xuan said he would apply for a passport as soon as he gets his MyKad as he planned to travel.

Tan said: “If he had not been able to get a MyKad, Kai Xuan would not have been able to find proper employment or enjoy any of the benefits offered to Malaysians by the Government.”

On another matter, Song urged the Government to amend certain clauses in the law so that a child born to a Malaysian parent could become a citizen of this country too.

“Currently, there are many stateless children born to Malaysian fathers and foreign mothers.”