Vital for ‘stateless’ persons to obtain citizenship — Fatimah
KUCHING: Minister for Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said it is important for genuine ‘stateless’ persons to get Malaysian citizenship.
With that status they could get various assistance including pre- school aid, free text books and supplementary food as well as monthly welfare aid and free treatment at clinics and hospitals, said the Dalat assemblywoman.
“Malaysian citizenship is the most valuable award one can have,” said Fatimah when contacted after she held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Home Minister, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“I am in KL to request DPM who is also the Home Minister and the authority to approve citizenship for advices. Based on his power and discretion, he can approve citizenship for those below 21 years old,” she said.
Fatimah also said it was now not necessary to submit family tree, photographs of family members and confirmation from midwives as supporting documents for birth certificate applications.
“We only need confirmation by Penghulu who has to make statutory declaration. That is regarding birth certificates,” she pointed out.
“I am asking for help for some children below 21 years old in relation to their education and welfare. And also for children who are placed under our (ministry’s) care at children’s homes including Rumah Kanak-Kanak Toh Puan Norkiah in Kuching and Rumah Kanak Kanak Datuk Ajibah Abol in Sri Aman,” she added.
Fatimah’s entourage to Ahmad Zahid yesterday included her two assistant ministers Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, and senior officers of the National Registration Department ( NRD) in charge of nationality.
State NRD director Jasni Jubli was not available as he went to the Home Ministry’s office instead of the DPM’s office, she said.
She mentioned that a special taskforce to overcome issues surrounding nationality, particularly stateless persons who are below 21 years, was set up in January this year and its term will expire at the end of next year.
On a related matter, she said a special meeting on issues surrounding birth certificates in the state will be held on Aug 23.