KUCHING: A total of 100 applications for Temporary Documents for Stateless Individuals in Sarawak (DSITKS) among children have been received as of Nov 1.
Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this was among the number of Sarawakians yet to obtain citizenship.
“Because of that, the Sarawak government took the initiative to issue temporary documents valid for two years to enable children without citizenship to get proper education.”
She said this at a press conference after chairing the Sarawak Women and Family Council (MWKS) Meeting Bill 3/2022 here on today (Dec 13).
Fatimah hoped that the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) could shorten the process of approving applications to obtain citizenship, which is increasingly burdening the lives of people without citizenship documents at the moment.
“This is because when children do not get an education, their future will be affected and become the cause of social issues.
“It is our intention to re-establish the Special Committee on Citizenship but before that, we need to know the plan and direction of KDN to help solve problems related to the issue.
“Let’s give the KDN time first, maybe the KDN will touch on this and how this process can be shortened because applications related to citizenship are under the jurisdiction of the KDN.”
She also revealed that most cases of non-citizenship in Sarawak are due to irregular marriages.
Because of that, she said the committee was set up to advise applicants on the procedures and documents required in addition to helping their applications to be complete.
