Changing lives: Abang Johari (in grey suit) and Fatimah Abdullah (far left) posing with recipients of the documents. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: Amar Akil Darwisy was seven days old when his mother handed him over to Awang Musa Awang Dillah and his wife Mordiah Abon, saying she could not raise him.
“We didn’t know who she was. We were on our way home after shopping when she flagged down our car and passed the baby to us. She just said she wanted to give him to us because she could not afford to raise him,” Mordiah, 43, recalled.
The couple, from Kampung Semilang in Asajaya decided to adopt the baby, but he remains stateless as his biological parents could not be traced.
However, Amar, who is now seven years old, can look forward to entering school next week as he has been issued a temporary document by the state government.
The temporary document allows stateless children born in Sarawak to access public schools and health facilities while waiting for their citizenship applications to be approved by the Federal Government.
Awang Musa said they applied for citizenship for Amar two years ago but were still waiting for a response. “We’re thankful for the temporary document as it will be easy for him to go to school,” he said after receiving the document from Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday.
Mordiah added that visits to the government health clinic would be free from now for Amar.
“Before this, we had to pay RM40 per visit and his immunisation shots cost RM80 each,” she said.
Mordiah and Awang with their adopted son, Amar Akil Darwisy.
Another recipient, 17-year-old Aisha Najiha Ismail was relieved and happy to get the temporary document.
“I hope to get my Malaysian citizenship one day,” she said.
Aisha, whose mother is Indonesian, is stateless as her parents’ marriage in Indonesia was not recognised when she was born in Sarawak.
Her father Ismail Seruji said they had applied for citizenship five times since she was a year old, without success so far.
“The reason was usually that our documents were not complete. But we will keep trying,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said the state government was concerned about stateless children who were unable to go to school or get treatment at government health clinics. “This is why we decided to issue the temporary documents pending the approval of their citizenship applications. What’s important is that the children can go to school. This is their right,” he said.
State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said 86 applications for the temporary documents had been approved since the initiative was introduced last November.
“The document, which is valid for two years, gives the children access to education and health services in the state,” she said.
An applicant must have a birth certificate issued in Sarawak, have applied for citizenship under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution and is below 21 years of age.
