By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Aug 5: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing are traveling deep into the interior of Sarawak to Long Singut to look into the issue of statelessnes there, among others.
Citing the example of two Long Singut youth Hesty Linggi and Lili Rudy who scored 6As in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) but are stateless, Masing said this is an issue which needs to be resolved urgently as it affected the future of hundreds of youth in Long Singut.
“I am trying to get them registered as Malaysians. That is why I took CM (chief minister) and relevant agencies to visit Long Singut on Aug 5, 2021 (today),” said Masing.
In a social media post today, he said there are 356 stateless residents in Long Singut but they are born and bred in the border settlement which is situated near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
“Some (of them) are second and third generations born in Long Singut. To me, it is a waste of talented human resources.
“Fortunately, the Resident and District Office of Kapit took these two (young women in photo) as interns in the office,” said Masing who is also the Infrastructure and Port Development Minister.
Masing has been urging the federal government to look into the issue of Long Singut residents who remain stateless even though they have been residing in the border settlement for three generations.
He said due to the lack of citizenship, the youth cannot pursue their studies beyond a certain secondary level while the adults cannot legally look for jobs.
“Their parents migrated from Kalimantan in the 60s. The children can’t study beyond Form Five even though they obtain good results, nor can adults seek employment because they have no identification cards.
“The Malaysian government must address their predicament of being stateless once and for all.
“The National Registration Department should send their mobile team to Long Singut soonest,” said Masing in a previous DayakDaily report.
Masing who is also the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said unless the issue is settled, Malaysians may be dubbed “uncaring”. — DayakDaily
