50 years later, green IC holder still in limbo

Today is Sarawakian Chai King Nin's 48th Malaysia Day. But unlike his family and peers, this event is less meaningful for him as he has yet to be recognised as a citizen.

King Nin, is a green identity card holder stll waiting for his permanent residency card or a MyKad.

He fled to Sarawak in the 1950s to escape the unrest in Indonesia. Later, he married a local and had five children.

The septuagenarian and former cook is now retired and living off his EPF savings.

Although he has an EPF account, he is not allowed to open a bank account, apply for a passport, hold a driving licence or even pay the same rates as the locals in government hospitals all because he is a green identity card holder.

"Effectively, he is stateless," said Pending state assemblyperson Violet Yong, who raised the matter during a press conference yesterday.

"Chai is treated like a foreigner and as no country to call his own."

Wall of red tape

King Nin had approached Yong for help two months ago and togather they have been approaching the national registration and the immigration departments without success.

"We were pushed from one department to another. We were greeted with answers such as 'waiting for directive from the top'," said Yong.

King Nin said that before this, he had approached the same departments countless times, all in vain.

On top of that, he has to renew his social visit for RM90 annually at the immigration department.

His youngest daughter Chui Jung said that this arrangement was not ideal as age is catching up with her father.

"He longs for a sense of belonging. There are days when he gets so depressed after being pushed from one government department to another," he said.

Mismah case suggests double standards

Yong said that the government should by right recognise Chai as a citizen as he had spent most of his life in Malaysia and had contributed to the country.

She pointed out that the much-publicised Mismah controversy proved that despite staying in the country for only 29 years, she was able to become a Malaysian citizen and granted full voting rights.

"It is unfortunate that government policies are so lopsided that it is willing to do anything to stay in power or gain politically but when it comes to ordinary folks, they are brushed aside," she added.

She said that Chai's case was not uncommon and hoped that the government would look into the matter.

Mismah, 47, from Bawaen, Indonesia found herself the focus ofmedia attention when accusations arose that she was a voter despite not being a Malaysian citizen.