333 individuals listed for citizenship status applications
MIRI: A total of 333 individuals in the Subis district have been identified for listing for the documentation of citizenship status applications. This documentation process was carried out as part of the Special Task Force Operation to address the issue of Sarawak residents without citizenship status, starting on Nov 13 at the Bekenu Community Hall. […]
Stevenson to focus on NCR, citizenship issues
BINTULU: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) candidate Stevenson Joseph Sumbang has outlined the key focus of his campaign in the Jepak by-election. The 42-year-old businessman, who is contesting for the second time in the state constituency, has emphasised the pressing issues of native customary rights (NCR) land and citizenship in the Jepak area. “These issues have […]
Heartening achievements but more needs to be done
IN a heartening turn of events, a wave of hope has swept through the lives of stateless individuals in Sarawak, as they finally receive the long-sought gift of citizenship. After enduring years of uncertainty, challenges, and exclusion from basic rights and opportunities, these stories stand as remarkable testaments to resilience, determination, and the transformative power […]
‘Please help me; I want to be an accountant, but I don’t have an IC …’
KUCHING: Like any ambitious student, Liana Sari Santud, 20, from Sibu, wishes to pursue higher education. Her interest is accounting. After successfully completing her foundation studies at a local university in Sibu in June, Liana is now preparing to embark on her degree programme, which will commence in September. However, there is an obstacle – […]
SUPP Women chief calls for constitutional amendment to address stateless child issue
KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan has pledged to persistently advocate for an amendment to the Federal Constitution regarding stateless children. She contends that the current law, found under the 2nd Schedule, Part II, Section 1(b), discriminates against Malaysian women by granting automatic citizenship solely to the overseas-born children of […]
UN urges nations to tackle gender discriminatory nationality laws
GENEVA: Despite some progress, 24 countries still retain nationality laws that deny women the right to pass their citizenship on to their children, while almost 50 countries prevent women from conferring nationality on their spouse on an equal basis with men, the United Nations (UN) said Tuesday. At the Global Summit on Gender Equality in […]
Have a heart on citizenship, Fatimah tells Hamzah
KUCHING: The protracted time taken to approve applications for citizenship is taking a toll on the basic rights of stateless children in Sarawak. Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah in stressing this, said this includes depriving them of their right to having proper education, healthcare and welfare assistance. “I […]
In search of 100 people without citizenship letters
KUCHING: The Ministry of Women, Child Development, and Community Welfare (KPWKK) will search for the 100 people who have yet to receive their citizenship approval letters. Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the effort was to help the Minister of Home Affairs (KDN) because Putrajaya was not familiar with the state’s geography. “We have received […]
17-year-old wants to further studies but has no citizenship
KUCHING: Siti Mariam’s future is looking bleak as she has no documents of citizenship since birth in 2005. To make matters worse, her birth mother, who is Indonesian, also does not have a valid citizenship status and only carries an Indonesian passport. Muslimon Sulaiman, 57, the stepfather of Siti Mariam, is now at a loss […]
State in best position to solve citizenship issue
KUCHING: Sarawakian human rights activists Peter John Jaban and Bill Jugah are confident giving citizenship to stateless people born in Sarawak can be done if the the state has fully authority. Jaban said Sarawak should have control over the issuance of citizenship now that it has regained its original status as an equal partner to […]
