Ninety-two and still waiting for citizenship

I’M 92, all I want now is to be recognised as a Malaysian.” This is the greatest wish of Malaysianborn Kum Tein Fei ( pix), who has lived in the country longer than most Malaysians. While Malaysian citizenship is a birthright for fellow countrymen, it remains a dream for this nonagenarian.

Kum told Sin Chew Daily in an interview published yesterday that since young, he had applied to the National Registration Department (NRD) numerous times for a blue identity card but to no avail.

“All I can show is a red IC,” he lamented, flashing the card during the interview.

“I have lost count of the number of times I have applied (for my blue IC), the last being some two years ago when I was called up for an interview.

“Despite that (interview), the NRD refused to grant me citizenship, and no reason was given.

“I am still at a loss as to the reason for the rejection. The department only said it was state secret.”

Nevertheless, Kum, who is hale and hearty despite his age, is not about to give up and news that Gerakan has set up a committee to register stateless Malaysians and help them apply for citizenship came as a new ray of hope for him.

He got his daughter-in-law to get in touch with the party upon reading the news in Sin Chew two weeks ago.

“Although all my previous applications ended in rejection, I’ve never given up hope.

I hope that with the assistance of Gerakan this time around, my dream to be granted citizenship will come true,” said Kum, who has 13 children and dozens of grandchildren, all of whom have no problem with their nationality.