KUCHING – While lauding Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s commitment to assisting Rohana Abdullah, a stateless woman who was abandoned as a 2-month-old baby after her Indonesian mother returned to her country, several Dayak groups in Sarawak are urging the government to take on similar cases nationwide, including in East Malaysia.
"I urge the government to not only tackle this individual issue but also to accommodate the numerous similar cases spread all over the nation, including in Sarawak and Sabah.
“I am sure the government is not simply favouring a particular segment of society in discharging its duties,” said Bill Jugah, chairman of the Rajang branch of the Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) in a statement today.
Jugah, who is based in Sibu, said his branch has over 920 cases of statelessness and other matters pertaining to citizenship of varying degrees on hand.
He said it is commendable that the government is taking serious steps to address this long-standing issue, which affects not only the rights and well-being of its citizens but also tarnishes the country’s image internationally for failing to uphold human rights.
My immediate concern is the denial of education rights to those of school-going age. Some cannot even complete the online registration as per current requirements to get their names accepted into the education database system.
“Some are required to go to the Immigration Department to pay for an annual student pass. Some had to obtain passports from other countries. Some are forced to pay for textbooks that are provided free to others,” he said.
The nation, said Jugah, is losing its potential workforce in the form of future lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, machine operators, entrepreneurs, and nurses.
We are already facing a brain drain in our economic system, where talented Malaysians have become expatriates abroad,” he said.
Jugah pointed out that the government, particularly the Home Ministry, needs to upgrade its current guidelines in issuing identity cards and relevant documentation.
“We cannot depend on ministerial intervention in individual cases, as exemplified by Rohana’s case.
Ministers have other pressing matters concerning the nation to attend to so that this nation can be free from extremism, cronyism, corruption, and racism.
“I am sure these ministers are not simply preoccupied with how to remain in power and defend their parliamentary seats, but are very astute at serving the nation’s best interest.”
He said the nation has a lot to gain when the statelessness issue is resolved, particularly in the banking sector.
Banks would increase their customer base and accumulate a pool of funds when stateless individuals are able to open up savings accounts once they have their MyKad.
Even the EPF would benefit. Dwindling funds after i-Citra, i-Sinar and i-Lestari withdrawals can be replenished when statelessness and non-citizenship issues are resolved.
“At this moment, I am keeping this matter within our nation so as to allow our government to address this long-standing matter internally. I would resort to the United Nations only when I have exhausted all other means.
“I have set up a simple gateway website to receive complaints from those affected by this issue. I would be corresponding with relevant government agencies, including the Malaysian Commission of Human Rights very soon,” Jugah added.
Other organisations endorsing this press statement are Dominique Ng of Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspiration, Terabai Kenyalang Heritage Association of Sarawak, Dayak Ritual Awareness Fellowship, Persatuan Etnik Dayak Asal Sarawak, Peter John Jaban of Global Human Rights Federation, Purple Lily Social Association Kuching, and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru. – The Vibes, January 17, 2022
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