How 8-year-old Yusri became a stateless orphan

 

"I shook my father but he didn't wake up. His hands were stiff and Dad's body was cold. I then turned off the fan and went out to tell my aunt next door," said Muhammad Yusri, relating how his father had died in the April 12 incident.

In the blink of an eye, the eight-year-old boy became an orphan.

This is because before his father died of a heart attack, his mother passed away about a year ago.

Yusri's father is a Malaysian citizen, but his late mother is Indonesian. And unfortunately, the child now has to bear the burden due to the “negligence” of his parents who failed to fulfil the documentation process to determine his citizenship status.

Yusri never went to school. At such a young age, he does not understand what he is going through, not to mention that his future will continue to be shadowed by uncertainty due to the lack of identity documents.

For now, Yusri is being cared for by his late father's ex-wife from a previous marriage. His father's marriage to the woman was blessed with three children, aged between 14 and 24 years old.

Even without his biological parents, the presence of his new family at least gave some joy to the children as they celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

From PD to Teluk Intan

While he is not alone in facing the future, Yusri still hopes that there is a path for him to chart a brighter future.

But at the same time, Yusri's new family admitted that they were deeply concerned about the fate of the child, especially as he is without any personal documents, including a birth certificate.

The problem started when the marriage of Yusri's parents was not registered, and this was compounded when his birth documentation did not go through the proper procedures.

Yusri was born at home and he grew up in a village in Puchong, Selangor, before following his father to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, at the beginning of this year.

When he suddenly lost his parents, he was taken in by his father's first wife's family to live with them in Teluk Intan, Perak.

The single mother, who wants to be known as Haslinda, 48, said she and her children decided to take responsibility to look after and raise Yusri, who is now an orphan.

Haslinda, with Yusri

Unfortunately, Haslinda's ex-husband failed to manage Yusri's registration once the latter was born in 2015 due to certain factors.

"We were informed that the reason was that the couple was experiencing difficulties in life at that time.

"At the beginning of this year, Yusri's father did start working on the birth registration, but we are not sure how far the process has gone.

"After the death of Yusri's father, we found that there were several copies of documents, such as the birth registration form, the sworn witness statement and the police report related to Yusri's birth that his late father had previously made," she said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Bound by a sense of responsibility

The case of undocumented children like Yusmi's is not an isolated case. Rather, this is a reality experienced by many people.

However, the solution is quite complicated because it requires following of strict procedures set by the National Registration Department (NRD).

Meanwhile, Haslinda, who works as a small entrepreneur, said that she is now at a loss because she does not know the procedure to begin applying for Yusri’s citizenship.

"I understand the process is not easy and we hope that there is someone who can help manage and simplify this problem, especially the relevant government agencies.

"My children are brothers and sisters of Yusri. Although I myself have no direct relationship with him, of course, I feel responsible to take care of Yusri since he is my children's younger sibling," she said.

Haslinda said Yusri has also expressed his desire to go to school, like other children.

Thus, she and her children are determined to ensure that Yusri gets the best possible education.

"We will make sure his needs are met, and God willing, I will take care of him as I take care of my own child," she said. - Mkini