Stateless children to get temporary Sarawak IDs

 

Sarawak women, childhood and community wellbeing development minister Fatimah Abdullah said the documents would help the stateless to obtain education and health services. (Facebook pic)

KUCHING: The Sarawak government is to issue temporary identity documents for those under the age of 21 who have not received citizenship documents.

The temporary documents will help them have access to education and health services while they apply for Malaysian citizenship, said Fatimah Abdullah, state minister for women, childhood and community wellbeing development.

However, the temporary documents did not amount to a promise that they will obtain Malaysian citizenship, she said. Citizenship matters come under the federal government.

She did not say when the temporary documents would be issued.

She hoped the temporary documents would help children currently deemed to be stateless or whose citizenship status is unknown due to their mother or father’s unregistered marriage to foreigners.

“Many of them are from poor families and we are very concerned that if they do not get access to education, they will have a hard time securing a job and this, in turn, will see them continue to live in poverty,” she said. - FMT