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 thinking about his 17-year-old stepdaughter’s future.
As if this was not bad enough, Siti Mariam’s brother, Yuhanis Abdullah, who worked as a delivery rider, was killed when he lost control of his vehicle in Jalan Sultan Tengah here on March 29.
This matter gained the attention of the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development and the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKM).
Visiting the family at their residence on Thursday (April 7), minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the ministry was committed to helping the family obtain citizenship.
Fatimah explained that Mariam did not have citizenship as her mother did not have a complete marriage document despite being married to a Malaysian.
“Because Mariam’s father had passed away, we need to find a guardian to apply for citizenship. We found out that Mariam’s mother had remarried, and her marriage (documents) is in order this time.
“This means that Mariam’s stepfather (Muslimon) has the opportunity to apply for citizenship for Mariam because Mariam has not yet reached the age of 21,” she told the media.
Fatimah elaborated that in order to obtain citizenship, under Article 15A of Federal Constitution, the age limit is 21 and to be categorised as a child, the age is up to 18.
“If Mariam is still considered a child, then we at JKM can help the stepfather (Muslimon) apply for custody.
“So we need the document for Muslimon to be given legal custody by the court.
“This is the process that we have to go through and I have informed the National Registration Department (JPN).
“When the court has given an order that Muslimon is Mariam’s legal guardian, then Mariam’s stepfather has the power to apply for citizenship for his stepdaughter.”
Fatimah stated that Mariam should be given citizenship because she intended to further her studies.
“However, if she ever changes her mind and wants to work instead, she should be granted citizenship. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for her to apply for jobs.”
Meanwhile, in the case of Nurjannah Abdullah, the late Yuhanis’ mother, Fatimah advised her to apply for an entry permit in advance from the Immigration Department monthly for a period of two years.
She explained that after two years, Nurjannah would be granted citizenship under Act 15(1), which states that she is the wife of a Malaysian.
Fatimah also advised Muslimon to apply for House Repairs for the Poor assistance from the state government through the Urban Poverty Eradication Programme.
According to Fatimah, each assemblyman had been given allocations for the purpose to help the poor.
During the visit, Fatimah also presented donations in the form of cash and food to the family while JKM also allocated RM300 monthly to the family to cover their expenses.
