Saifuddin deserves credit, too, for his swift action

 

One particular story published in Malaysiakini on Easter Sunday caught my attention.

Let me give a thumbs-up to writer Puteri Aisya Sufian for working on the plight of an elderly Lun Bawang woman, 65-year-old cancer patient Lina Samuel, of Lawas, Sarawak.

Allow me, in passing, to also encourage our journalists to probe and write more about the social problems and challenges faced by our less-fortunate folks, particularly those in the rural areas.

Lina’s plight is now well known and I’m glad that Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has taken swift action to help resolve her case.

My key question in the whole story is: Does the National Registration Department (NRD) officer has the right to confiscate Lina’s MyKad? I’m aware that even the police have no right to keep a person’s identity card for whatever reason.

According to Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) director Zaid Malek, the NRD has no right to seize a person’s MyKad as the act was unconstitutional.

“The seizure of the individual’s MyKad was without a doubt an unlawful and unconstitutional act by the NRD, for which there can be no justification”, he said.

Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek

It has been four days since and there have been a few more follow-up pieces on the case, some of which had put the home minister in an unfavourable light.

Quite unsettling

Of course, if this issue is taken up by politicians, then don’t expect it to be smooth sailing. I find some of the flaks thrown in Saifuddin’s way quite unsettling.

This only tells me that the home minister has quite a number of cyber troopers out for his blood. As a politician, I’m sure Saifuddin is already immune to such brickbats in cyberspace.

I am not a politician and I view this case in a different light. I have no political points to score and I don’t need votes from the public.

I have taken up Lina’s case to the home minister and I’m doing it as a concerned citizen and out of compassion and sympathy for a sick, elderly fellow Sarawakian. That is my only intention.

As Saifuddin is a personal friend, I wrote an informal note and sent it to the minister on Monday night via WhatsApp:

“Dear Brother Saifuddin, This attached article is self-explanatory. I am seeking your assistance to help resolve the case of Lina Samuel.

“Please do whatever is possible to help Lina get back her MyKad. She needs it to continue getting treatment for her cancer.

"At the same time, it is in the public interest to have your NRD officers in Lawas explain why Lina’s MyKad was seized by their office in the first place.

“This incident did not happen under your watch. As the new home minister under the Madani government, I trust that you would do the needful as soon as possible.

“Lina is already 65 and suffering from colon cancer. We don’t have much time left to assist in a case like this. Thank you. Sincerely, Francis Paul Siah.”

Birth certificate

I sent my message at about 10pm and 20 minutes later, I was surprised to receive a call from the minister.

Saifuddin told me that he has been on the case since the day before (Easter Sunday) when the news first broke. He clarified a few points with me – (1) Lina’s MyKad was seized by the NRD in 2019, not 2022 as I had assumed. (2) Lina’s citizenship on her children’s birth certificates was “Indonesian”.

I recall clearly that the minister told me of Lina’s given status on her children’s birth certificates; not that she was an Indonesian.

What was puzzling and what we questioned in unison over the phone was how Lina came to possess a blue MyKad if she indeed was an Indonesian.

The minister added that he would get to the bottom of it plus all the other issues surrounding Lina’s case. Before we hung up, Saifuddin assured me that he would facilitate issuing a document for Lina in order to enable her easier access to medical treatment. This is what I wanted for Lina and I feel comforted by the minister’s assurance.

The next morning, at 7.02am, I received this short message from the minister: “I have instructed my JPN officer to see her (Lina) tomorrow (12/4/23).

“Depending on the outcome of the meeting, I’ll try to issue a proper document to her. Take care and stay safe.”

So, from 10pm to 7am, the minister must be at work discussing the case with his staff. Well, I know it’s part of the minister’s job but at least, I’m happy that the top gun in the ministry is taking a personal interest in Lina’s case.

Let’s be fair and give the minister his due credit.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Sim Kui Hian

Meantime, I’m also glad to learn from Sarawak Deputy Premier Sim Kui Hian that everyone will be treated at any public hospital, whether Malaysian or not.

The only difference is the charges. If no MyKad, then will be classified under “foreigner”, he said.

Sim, who is also the minister in charge of public health in Sarawak, also stressed that even if a foreigner does not pay, he would not be stopped from leaving.

“That is why we have a high volume of uncollected bills (not paid by 'foreigners')”, the deputy premier added.

Now, this is something else. I have no idea about this. So now, I’m also aware that Sarawakians are extremely compassionate and loving folks that we don’t mind foreigners seeking treatment in our public hospitals for free.

Seriously, as a Sarawakian, I support the idea if we can afford it. However, at the same time, we have to be wary of the potential abuse of our kindness.

I’m glad to have taken up Lina's case with the ministers concerned. From what I’ve learnt these past few days, I’m confident that Sarawak will take care of Lina the best way possible and provide her with the treatment she needs, MyKad or no MyKad. - Mkini

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.