KUCHING: Stateless residents in Sarawak should stop wasting time and get themselves registered with the soon-to-be operational Special Task Force (PPK) in their respective areas.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the state government has received approval from the Sabah and Sarawak State Security Working Committee chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs on Oct 12 to establish the PPK to deal with the issue of stateless residents.
Following that, the Sarawak government in collaboration with the National Registration Department established the PPK on April 11 2022.
“PPK is collecting data and detailed information from all district offices in Sarawak to identify Sarawakians who do not have identification documents.
“The ministry also organises various awareness and advocacy programmess on the issue of identity documents in Sarawak. Since 2017, a total of 71 series of programmes have been implemented among vulnerable communities, especially in areas bordering neighbouring countries,” said Fatimah.
She went on to say that the government is concerned about Sarawak residents facing problems with identification documents as they do not have access to educational, medical, and welfare facilities.
PPK was formed in response to the Malaysian Agreement Special Council Meeting (MA63) decision to address the issue of Sarawakians without citizenship.
The team has already made all necessary preparations to move to all corners of the state to address the issues raised, subject to agreement.
Fatimah said her ministry has implemented a programme to raise residents’ awareness of arranged marriages with foreign nationals to ensure their children’s citizenship status.
“The fact is that if a local man marries a foreigner or their marriage is irregular, or a child is born before a regular marriage takes place, then the child born will inherit the mother’s nationality, who is not a citizen.
“And for these children, the parents need to apply for citizenship under Article 15A and our ministry has implemented a three series dialogue programme on the issue of identity documents and citizenship issues with the community in Mongkos Serian, Lundu and Lubok Antu.
“And in 2022, a similar dialogue and randau have been implemented in Paloh, Kedang and Berangan, Tanjung Manis district, Kampung Assum, Padawan, Rumah Seli, Munggu Tunggal, Debak, and Kampung Long Bedian, Apoh, Tutuh Baram,” she said.
