KUALA LUMPUR: Several individuals’ wish to become Malaysians was finally realised yesterday when they received documents establishing their citizenship status.
For S. Vanitha Mani, 37, it was the end of a 20-year-long wait. The housewife had applied several times for citizenship, but her application was rejected each time due to “documentation issues”.
Vanitha Mani, accompanied by her husband, P. Arumugam, 45, was smiling broadly when she received her citizenship approval letter from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at a special ceremony here.
"No word can describe my happiness today. Thank you for finally accepting me as a Malaysian citizen. Moreover, I am very happy to receive my citizenship approval letter personally from a leader who does not sideline other races in the country,” she said.
Vanitha Mani, who was born in Karaikudi, India, has been living in Malaysia since marrying her Malaysian husband in 1998. The couple is blessed with seven children, aged six to 19.
She said Malaysians are very fortunate because from birth, various forms of assistance is provided for by the government, especially in areas of health and education, and various loans were made available to start businesses.
"Before, when I went for treatment at the 1Malaysia Clinic, I had to pay RM15. But now as a citizen I only have to pay RM1," said Vanitha Mani, who received her permanent resident status in 2010. -- Bernama