Recognise Sarawak documents for stateless persons, govt urged

 

Suhakam children’s commissioner Noor Aziah Mohd Awal has called on the federal government to cooperate with the Sarawak state government in recognising the temporary documentation of stateless persons under 21.

The issuance of such documentation enables stateless children in Sarawak to access public schools and medical services at the same fee rate as Malaysian citizens.

Aziah lauded this decision, calling it a major administrative shift in favour of stateless children.

“Since its inception, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) has received numerous complaints related to statelessness, including delays in school admissions, denied admission, steep education and medical costs.

“These are contrary to Malaysia’s international obligation as a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to ensure that all institutions make the best interest of children a primary consideration in all actions,” she said in a statement.

Section 28 of the CRC makes it obligatory for all children in Malaysia, including undocumented children, to have access free education.

“In addition to violations of their right to a nationality, stateless persons are often subject to many other human rights violations and thus, the OCC appeals to the federal government to adopt the same measure to be implemented in all states,” Aziah said.

Noor Aziah Mohd Awal

Temporary documentation

On Sunday (April 10) Sarawak's Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah said the Office of the Premier of Sarawak will issue temporary documentation to eligible stateless children applying for citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution.

Article 15A states "the federal government may, in such special circumstances as it thinks fit, cause any person under the age 21 to be registered as a citizen”.

Fatimah said the measure is to facilitate their access to education and health facilities but stressed that it is not a promise of citizenship, which falls under the federal government's jurisdiction.

Fatimah, however, stressed that the issuance of the temporary documentation was not a promise for the individuals concerned to obtain Malaysian citizenship.

She also did not disclose when the issuance of the temporary documentation would be enforced, adding that a committee would be set up to review the application and issuance of the document. - Mkini