SIBU: The Sarawak government’s decision to issue temporary documentation to eligible stateless persons to enable them to access education and health facilities has been applauded by the Independent Council of Natives (ICON), a co-founder of the Dayak Rights Action Force (DRAF).
Its founder Bill Jugah, said that he has been a strong proponent on the issue of statelessness in the state.
He said he had also continuously applied pressure on federal government agencies to honour the basic human rights of marginalised groups.
“For the purpose of data collection and further action by government agencies, I have set up a website https://bit.ly/BillJugah.
“The website is used to receive cases so that distant applicants need not incur expenses for travel, fuel, food or accommodation just to meet me in Sibu.
“Parents can also download a letter already prepared for submission to the school and Education Ministy for their undocumented children in case parents face problems on school admission due to current policies,” he said on Sunday (April 10).
Bill has also engaged ICON representatives in Miri, Corina Frankie (Women Unit Chief) and Ismail Lumut (Education Unit Chief) to assist in the collection of data.
In a recent exclusive interview, Bill stressed the advantages to be gained by the government if the issue were to be addressed and resolved.
The government, he said, can initiate proper targeted development plans after having included these people into its planning as at the moment, current plans can be viewed as lopsided due to their exclusion.
“So, let’s be the statesmen who care for the next generation and not mere politicians who worry about keeping their constituency seats in the next election,” he said.
On Saturday, Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Well-being Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah revealed that the state government would issue temporary documentation to eligible stateless children to access education and health facilities.
