Stateless man in Sabah can’t wait to taste citizenship privileges

 

Wong Kueng Hui hopes the government will not appeal against the ruling that affirms that he is a Malaysian citizen.

KUALA LUMPUR: Wong Kueng Hui couldn’t hold back his tears when he heard the Court of Appeal ruling that affirmed that he is a Malaysian citizen, ending a 15-year battle to be recognised.

But his struggle is not over. The government has 30 days in which to apply for leave to appeal. “I hope the government will show sympathy and not appeal,” he said. “If the case goes to the Federal Court, I will lose another two years at least, in more legal proceedings,” he said.

“How much longer do I have to wait to be a citizen, after 15 years?” he said.

He can’t wait to taste the privileges a citizen enjoys, including having a bank account and sitting for his Form 5 examination.

The 27-year-old, who was born to a Malaysian father and to a mother believed to be from Indonesia, said he still feels he is in a dream since the ruling was made on Jan 19.

“I remember sitting with my lawyers Haijan Omar and Sharifah Alawiah Syed Alwee while listening to the decision. When Haijan turned to me and congratulated me, I burst out crying. I tried so hard not to lose hope,” Wong told FMT.

Wong with his birth certificate that shows his status as ‘non-citizen’.

The last 15 years have not been kind to him as he experienced discrimination by people who saw him as a foreigner while he was fighting for a MyKad.

“There were many times I wanted to give up. My adopted father passed away late last year and I felt I could not fulfil my promise to him, which was to get a MyKad and return home to Sabah,” he said.

His Malaysian father died when he was 10 while his mother died when he was 17.

Wong came to the peninsula five years ago in order to gain his citizenship in court but it involved a lot of cumbersome processes when applying to the immigration department to re-enter his home state.

Wong with his biological father, Wong Ging Cheu, and mother, Lilis Beni, celebrating his birthday when he was two years old.

He hopes to return home as soon as he gets his citizenship and spend time with his loved ones.

“I dream of opening a bank account, getting a driving licence, travelling outside Malaysia and even something as basic as getting an SPM qualification,” he said.

He would love to travel to Japan, where he can experience punk music, and visit the three-storey vinyl record stores he has seen only in pictures.

He hopes that his case would set a precedent for other stateless people to obtain the same right to citizenship.

“My hope for those stuck in the same predicament is to be brave and fight back. I felt oppressed, not just by the authorities but also by people who have prejudices against stateless people. I know it’s not easy but we must fight for our own rights. No one can stop you,” he said. - FMT