KUCHING: For weeks 20-year old Liana Sari Santud had anxious moments wondering if she would ever be accepted by a local university to pursue her ambition to be an accountant, but all’s well that ends well because she has been offered a seat.
Thanks to University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) chairman Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee’s timely intervention, the university is taking the Sibu lass in and has assured her that she will receive the same assistance like any other students despite being stateless.
Now, she is hoping her identity card issue would also be resolved soon.
Liana clarified in a video which she posted on her Facebook yesterday (July 6) following a meeting with Dr Annuar, who is the Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, that UTS had assured her of a seat and assistance.
“The university pledged to give me the same treatment as the other students and I will receive assistance, despite being stateless.
“Therefore, the issue of me entering the degree programme is now resolved and I will go for the accountancy programme just like any other student, even though I only have a birth certificate,” said an elated Liana.
She added that UTS will also help her resolve her IC issue and will arrange a meeting with Dr Annuar to discuss her IC application process.
Yesterday (July 6), Dr Annuar clarified that the university had never denied Liana the chance to pursue her degree programme.
He assured that Liana will be given the same treatment like any other Sarawakian student even though she is still applying for her identification document.
On July 5, Liana had posted several videos on social media platforms explaining her predicament where she was yet to be granted citizenship and obtain an IC which would be an obstacle to her tertiary education journey beginning September.
She claimed that her mother had applied for a MyKAS (temporary resident card) in April 2022, but till now was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Welfare Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said she was made to understand by the National Registration Department (JPN) that Liana’s biological mother had been asked to present evidence of her citizenship claims if there were supporting identification documents from her (Liana’s mother) parents, siblings or grandparents.
According to Fatimah, the status of Liana’s birth certificate is listed as ‘Undetermined’ due to the fact that her biological mother is also listed as ‘Undetermined’ on the birth certificate and her father does not have any identification documents.
“Another suggestion would be for Liana to visit the JPN office to apply for a green identification card, which is known as a temporary resident card,” she said.
Fatimah also hoped the Special Task Force (STF) programme could address such issues.
The STF was set up on April 11 last year to help Sarawakians who did not have any identification documents or citizenship status.
