KUCHING: The Sarawak government will issue temporary documents to stateless people aged below 21 who were born in the state.
State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the document was important, especially for children to have access to education and health services.
"Education is a basic right for every child. This is also another effort by the state government to identify the number of stateless individuals," she said at a press conference after the state assembly sitting here earlier today.
Fatimah said from Dec 2 onwards, the state ministry, with the cooperation of the National Registration Department, district offices and other agencies would be at selected locations to conduct registrations.
"In Kuching, we know in the Desa Wira area, there are children who do not have documents and their citizenship status is unknown," she said, adding that the team would head to other locations in Sibu, Sepupok, Miri and Lawas as well.
"Through the issuance of the temporary documents for Sarawak-born stateless individuals, we will be able to know the number of people who are applying and also those who are waiting for approval," she said.
She said the state ministry had received 60 applications since Nov 1, as she also informed that applications could be made directly through the ministry or at district offices.
Applicants with undetermined citizenship status must have a birth certificate registered in Sarawak and h.ave applied for Malaysian citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution. — Bernama