Sorry, no MyKad, no school

PKR veep N Surendran has highlighted the case of three children who can’t go to school because they don't have MyKads.

PETALING JAYA: Three children who were born in Malaysia are unable to go to school because the National Registration Department (NRD) is refusing to issue them their MyKad.

Their case is being taken up by PKR. Its vice-president N Surendran said it is time Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein stepped in to help the children.

He said the children should be given financial aid and attend special classes so that they can catch up.

Failing which, Surendran said, they will organise a mass demonstration in front of the NRD office in Alor Setar on June 10 and in front of NRD headquarters in Putrajaya on June 15.

At a press conference held at PKR headquarters here, Surendran said the first case involved Suriakala, 15, who completed her UPSR in primary school but her problems began after she completed her Remove Class in SMK Ungku Hussein, Semenyih.

Surendran said Suriakala’s mother is a citizen but there is no information about her father.

“She is a citizen but the NRD refused her a MyKad. It is illegal for them to do so under article 14 of the Federal Constitution,” said Surendran.

Article 14 renders Suriakala a Malaysian by birth.

Suriakala’s mother S Komathi said: “I received my identification card at the age of 40. It is difficult for me to give my daughter a proper education.

“We still keep her books and pencils. She even asks her brothers to teach her,” said Komathi.

Komathi’s two sons – Subramaniam, 21, and Darvin Raj, 18, also do not have proper documentation.

Useless birth certificates

On the second case, Surendran highlighted the case of two orphan brothers Hari, 14, and Haran, 12, who were given “useless” birth certificates.

The birth certificates were obtained through MIC’s My Daftar campaign. Surendran said the documents were useless as they were not recognised to allow the boys to attend school.

Hari told FMT he is currently receiving informal education from volunteers in the Agathian Centre for Orphans in Section 8.

Both Hari and Haran were found along the Subang highway six years ago.

On this case, Surendran said NRD was taking a ridiculous position on the grounds that they are no information about the parents.

In a related development, Surendran also criticised NRD director-general Jariah Said who gave an exclusive interview to the Tamil press, published today.

Jariah is reported to have denied that the stateless Indians in Malaysia were 300,000 and challenged the opposition to bring forward the 300,000 people.

“The government is afraid of the impact of Indian votes in the election,” said Surendran.

He also claimed that the interview was made to counter Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s statement that the problem of stateless Indians would be resolved once Pakatan Rakyat took over the federal government.

“She denied that there are 300,000 stateless Indians but did not back up with a study on the real number of stateless people,” said Surendran.